Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in Southern China: High-Frequency Observations and Emission Estimates

Abstract

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are potent greenhouse gases whose global abundance continues to rise and subsequently warm the Earth. Southern China is a rapidly developing region that has experienced a sharp increase in its HFC consumption. Here, we present the first high-frequency HFC observations in Southern China from 2022 to 2023, analyzing the atmospheric mole fractions of four HFCs (HFC-134a, HFC-32, HFC-125, and HFC-143a) and using inverse modeling to estimate their emissions in Southern China. We find that HFC emissions in Southern China are primarily concentrated in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Guangdong, with Jiangsu having the highest HFC-134a emissions (4.1 ± 0.5 Gg yr^–1, ± 1 standard deviation). HFC-125 and HFC-32 emissions are elevated in Anhui, Jiangsu, and Guangdong, while HFC-143a emissions are predominantly in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. From 2022–2023, HFC emissions in the Pearl River Delta are expected to increase, while in the Yangtze River Delta, HFC-134a, HFC-125, and HFC-32 emissions are 94.2% ± 54.6%, 200.9% ± 28.7%, and 187.5% ± 24.2% higher than 2012–2016 levels, respectively. The rise in HFC consumption and the delayed emissions from HFC banks in Southern China highlight the necessity of estimating HFC emissions. Our findings will support local emission reduction policies and contribute to global climate change efforts.