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| CIRES' Annual, Institute-wide Symposium [ Home | Poster Submission | Agenda | Posters | Archives ] |
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Science Rendezvous > Posters Trends of Atmospheric Halocarbon and other Important Trace Gases. Debra J. Mondeel (1,2), Geoff S. Dutton (1,2), Carolina Siso (1.2), Benjamin R. Miller (1,2), J. David Nance (1,2), Lloyd Miller (3), Stephen A. Montzka (2), Brad D. Hall (2),and James W. Elkins (1,2) (1) CIRES, (2) NOAA/ESRL, (3) Science and Technology Corporation (STC) This poster presents atmospheric trends and distributions of non-CO2 & CH4 greenhouse gases, stratospheric ozone depleting, and air quality gases. The Halocarbon and other Atmospheric Trace Species Group (HATS) network of NOAA/ESRL/GMD includes in situ instrumentation and flask sampling. Measurements of N2O, CFC-11, and CFC-12 go back to 1977. Recently, the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) have decreased in the atmosphere as a result of the Montreal Protocol to Control Substance that Destroy the Ozone Layer. Their replacement compounds include the hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and many of them are routinely measured by our group. Reductions in consumption of the HCFCs were added to subsequent amendments of the Montreal Protocol, because they still contain chlorine, which destroys stratospheric ozone. Recently, we have seen an increase in the emissions of the HCFCs, probably the result that developing countries can still produce these chemicals whereas developed nations can not. Also, of particular note is that the emissions of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), used in the distribution of electrical power, has increased by almost a factor of 30%. This could also be from the increased usage of this chemical in developing countries. It will be interesting to follow these chemicals in the near future, because of the global recession that is underway. |
