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Extraordinary halocarbon emissions initiated by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake
Author(s) -
Saito Takuya,
Fang Xuekun,
Stohl Andreas,
Yokouchi Yoko,
Zeng Jiye,
Fukuyama Yukio,
Mukai Hitoshi
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2014gl062814
Subject(s) - halocarbon , ozone depletion , greenhouse gas , ozone , environmental science , global warming potential , atmospheric sciences , ozone layer , carbon dioxide , air conditioning , meteorology , climatology , chemistry , geology , oceanography , engineering , physics , organic chemistry , mechanical engineering
The Tohoku earthquake of 11 March 2011, with moment magnitude M w = 9.0, and subsequent tsunami caused catastrophic structural damage in east Japan. Using high‐frequency atmospheric monitoring data, we show that emissions of halocarbons, potent greenhouse gases and stratospheric ozone‐depleting substances, dramatically increased shortly after the earthquake and that annual emissions were significantly higher in 2011 than in other years. We estimate that the sum of earthquake‐related emissions of the six studied halocarbon species (CFC‐11, HCFC‐22, HCFC‐141b, HFC‐134a, HFC‐32, and SF 6 ) was 6.6 (5.2–8.0) Gg, which is equivalent to ozone depletion potential‐weighted emissions of 1.3 (1.1–1.6) Gg with a global warming potential equivalent to 19.2 (15.8–22.5) Tg of carbon dioxide. These extraordinary halocarbon emissions are likely due to destruction of building components containing halocarbons, such as air conditioners, foam insulation, and electrical equipment.