Energy use impact of CFC alternatives

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991 · Energy Engineering; (United States)

OSTI ID:7307987

Fischer, S ^[1]

---

1. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)

The Montreal Protocol was signed by 24 countries and the European Economic Community in September 1987 in an unprecedented action to protect the global environment. At that time the theory linking chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to the depletion of stratospheric ozone was still controversial and it did not enjoy the almost universal acceptance that it has today. The actions taken in Montreal represented the first time that so many nations acted together on an environmental problem before there were incontrovertible data to back them up. This paper reports that findings since 1987 have borne out the wisdom of the agreements reached in Montreal. Subsequent analysis of data from the Antarctic spring in September and October 1987 tied the rapid decline in stratospheric ozone with the presence of chlorine monoxide, ClO, and it showed ozone levels dropping much faster than could be explained by any current theory. Even more time was needed to reconcile the data that were found for O{sub 3} and ClO in the Antarctic and to understand the interactions of ozone, ClO, polar stratospheric clouds, and the biennial nature of Antarctic winds in the appearance and disappearance of the ozone hole.

• OSTI ID: 7307987
• Journal Information: Energy Engineering; (United States), Vol. 88:1; ISSN 0199-8595
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
ENVIRONMENT
OZONE LAYER
AGREEMENTS
LAYERS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
290300* - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
Health
& Safety