Atmospheric lifetime experiment. 4. Results for CF/sub 2/Cl/sub 2/ based on three years data

Journal Article · Thu Oct 20 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JC088iC13p08401· OSTI ID:6733326

Cunnold, D M; Prinn, R G; Rasmussen, R A; Simmonds, P G

Observations of dichlorodifluoromethane obtained several times daily over the period July 1978 to June 1981 at Adrigole, Ireland (52/sup 0/N, 10/sup 0/W), Ragged Point, Barbados (13/sup 0/N, 59/sup 0/W), Point Matatula, American Samoa (14 /sup 0/W, 171/sup 0/W) and Cape Grim, Tasmania (41/sup 0/S, 145/sup 0/E), are reported. Observations at Cape Meares, Oregon (45/sup 0/N, 124/sup 0/W), are also given for the preiod November 1980 to June 1981. On January 1, 1980, the average mixing ratio of dichlorodifluoromethane in the lower troposphere is estimated to have been 285 ppty and to have been increasing at 6.0%/year. The atmospheric lifetime of this compound is estimated from this data by adjusting its destruction rate in a two-dimensional model of the atmosphere so as to provide the best fit to the observations. Assuming destruction of CF/sub 2/Cl/sub 2/ in the stratosphere only, the lifetime estimate for Jaunary 1, 1980, by the inventory technique is 69/sup +36//sub 18/ years. The trend technique principally provides a lower limit to the lifetime of 81 years. The results suggest a need for further assessment of dichlorodifluoromethane release estimates, particularly those from the USSR and eastern Europe.

• Research Organization: School of Geophysical Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology
• OSTI ID: 6733326
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 88:C13; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMISTRY
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
MIXING RATIO
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OZONE
QUANTITY RATIO
TROPOSPHERE