Mitigation of the growth of the chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, CO (United States)
The chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were developed in the early 1920`s as replacements for the toxic refrigerants, like ammonia and sulfur dioxide. The CFCs are quickly released into the atmosphere from refrigerators and air conditioners that leak or during the refilling process, the production of foams, and the release of aerosol propellants. While the CFCs are non-toxic and unreactive in the lower atmosphere, they release chlorine in the upper atmosphere during photolysis and the chlorine reacts catalytically to destroy stratospheric ozone. One chlorine atom can destroy over 100,000 molecules of ozone until it is removed as HC1 from the stratosphere. The discovery of the Antarctic ozone hole in 1985 convinced public policy makers that the threat to the ozone layer was real. The Montreal Protocol for Substances that Destroy Ozone calls for the elimination of most CFCs by the end of the year 2000 and has been signed by over 100 countries. The worldwide reduction in the production by mandated and voluntary means are contributing to a reduction in the atmospheric growth rate of many CFCs. This talk will show this improvement in the atmospheric measurements from 7 stations ranging in latitude from 83{degrees}N to 90{degrees}S in the NOAA/CMDL halocarbon network. Besides mitigation by human activities, the ocean is a sink for some of the halocarbons included in the Montreal Protocol. The importance of this sink for atmospheric halocarbons will also be discussed using data from recent oceanographic expeditions.
- OSTI ID:
- 141244
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-930304--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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