Atmospheric observation-based global SF6 emissions - comparison of top-down and bottom-up estimates

  • Emissions of sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), one of the strongest greenhouse gases on a per molecule basis, are targeted to be collectively reduced under the Kyoto Protocol. Because of its long atmospheric lifetime (≈3000 years), the accumulation of SF6 in the atmosphere is a direct measure of its global emissions. Examination of our extended data set of globally distributed high-precision SF6 observations shows an increase in SF6 abundance from near zero in the 1970s to a global mean of 6.7 ppt by the end of 2008. In-depth evaluation of our long-term data records shows that the global source of SF6 decreased after 1995, most likely due to SF6 emission reductions in industrialised countries, but increased again after 1998. By subtracting those emissions reported by Annex I countries to the United Nations Framework Convention of Climatic Change (UNFCCC) from our observation-inferred SF6 source leaves a surprisingly large gap of more than 70–80% of non-reported SF6 emissions in the last decade.

Download full text files

Export metadata

Metadaten
Author:Ingeborg Levin, Tobias Naegler, Renate Heinz, Daniel Osusko, Emilio Cuevas, Andreas EngelORCiD, Johann Ilmberger, Ray L. Langenfelds, Bruno Neininger, Christoph von Rohden, L. Paul Steele, Rolf Weller, Douglas E. Worthy, Sergej A. Zimov
URN:urn:nbn:de:hebis:30-80693
URL:http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/9/26653/2009/
ISSN:1680-7375
ISSN:1680-7367
Parent Title (English):Atmospheric chemistry and physics. Discussions
Publisher:EGU
Place of publication:Katlenburg-Lindau
Document Type:Article
Language:English
Year of Completion:2009
Date of first Publication:2009/12/11
Publishing Institution:Universitätsbibliothek Johann Christian Senckenberg
Release Date:2010/09/24
Volume:9
Page Number:20
First Page:26653
Last Page:26672
Note:
Begutachteter Artikel erschienen in: Atmospheric chemistry and physics, 10.2010, Nr. 6, S. 2655-2662, doi:10.5194/acp-10-2655-2010
Note:
© Author(s) 2009. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Source:Atmospheric chemistry and physics discussions, 9, 26653–26672, 2009 ; http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/9/26653/2009/
HeBIS-PPN:228922992
Institutes:Geowissenschaften / Geographie / Geowissenschaften
Dewey Decimal Classification:5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 55 Geowissenschaften, Geologie / 550 Geowissenschaften
Sammlungen:Universitätspublikationen
Licence (German):License LogoCreative Commons - Namensnennung 3.0