Rapid increase in dichloromethane emissions from China inferred through atmospheric observations

Minde An, Luke M. Western, Daniel Say, Liqu Chen, Tom Claxton, Anita L. Ganesan, Ryan Hossaini, Paul B. Krummel, Alistair J. Manning, Jens Mühle, Simon O’Doherty, Ronald G. Prinn, Ray F. Weiss, Dickon Young, Jianxin Hu (), Bo Yao () and Matthew Rigby ()
Additional contact information
Minde An: Peking University
Luke M. Western: University of Bristol
Daniel Say: University of Bristol
Liqu Chen: Meteorological Observation Centre of China Meteorological Administration (MOC/CMA)
Tom Claxton: Lancaster University
Anita L. Ganesan: University of Bristol
Ryan Hossaini: Lancaster University
Paul B. Krummel: CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere
Alistair J. Manning: Met Office
Jens Mühle: University of California San Diego
Simon O’Doherty: University of Bristol
Ronald G. Prinn: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Ray F. Weiss: University of California San Diego
Dickon Young: University of Bristol
Jianxin Hu: Peking University
Bo Yao: Meteorological Observation Centre of China Meteorological Administration (MOC/CMA)
Matthew Rigby: University of Bristol

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract With the successful implementation of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, the atmospheric abundance of ozone-depleting substances continues to decrease slowly and the Antarctic ozone hole is showing signs of recovery. However, growing emissions of unregulated short-lived anthropogenic chlorocarbons are offsetting some of these gains. Here, we report an increase in emissions from China of the industrially produced chlorocarbon, dichloromethane (CH2Cl2). The emissions grew from 231 (213–245) Gg yr−1 in 2011 to 628 (599–658) Gg yr−1 in 2019, with an average annual increase of 13 (12–15) %, primarily from eastern China. The overall increase in CH2Cl2 emissions from China has the same magnitude as the global emission rise of 354 (281−427) Gg yr−1 over the same period. If global CH2Cl2 emissions remain at 2019 levels, they could lead to a delay in Antarctic ozone recovery of around 5 years compared to a scenario with no CH2Cl2 emissions.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27592-y

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