Key Points
- As revealed by satellite data, HFC-125 levels have increased nearly tenfold since 2004.
- The University of Waterloo’s ACE mission is the first to measure HFC-125 concentrations from space.
- HFC-125, used in fire extinguishers and cooling systems, contributes significantly to global warming.
- The study enhances understanding of atmospheric distribution, focusing on altitudes between 11 and 25 kilometers.
HFC-125, a greenhouse gas primarily used in fire extinguishers and cooling systems, significantly contributes to global warming. In the first study using satellites to measure its atmospheric concentration, researchers found that HFC-125 levels have increased exponentially over the past two decades.
Published in the Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer, the study details the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE) findings, a research initiative from the University of Waterloo. Under a contract with the Canadian Space Agency, ACE became the first to measure HFC-125 levels from space, focusing on its distribution between 11 and 25 kilometers above Earth.
HFC-125 is one of Canada’s three most common hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and is regulated under the Montreal Protocol, an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer. While HFCs do not harm the ozone, they significantly contribute to planetary warming. Over the years, the research team has monitored the reduction of restricted ozone-depleting substances and observed a rise in global ozone levels. The current focus on HFC-125 reflects growing concerns about its impact on climate change.
Dr. Peter Bernath, a professor at the University of Waterloo and mission scientist for ACE, reported that atmospheric concentrations of HFC-125 are now nearly ten times higher than when satellite data collection began in 2004. He expressed optimism that new international regulations will curtail this rise, similar to the success achieved with previously restricted refrigerants.
The satellite’s data provide critical insights into the global distribution of HFC-125, enhancing climatologists’ ability to predict climate change and understand chemical interactions in the stratosphere. Unlike prior studies limited to ground-level measurements, ACE offers a more comprehensive perspective on atmospheric changes. Dr. Bernath lauded the mission as one of Canada’s most successful scientific satellite endeavors, emphasizing its role in advancing global understanding of molecules that influence the ozone layer and global warming.
