Séminaire
The ozone layer depletion was identified and diagnosed. It is now on its way to “recover” from the effects of ozone depleting substances due to the success of the Montreal Protocol. In this process, the many non-ozone depleting substances are being phased in and their use is increasing very rapidly.
In the process of protecting the ozone layer, we could be harming Earth’s climate because of the use of Hydrofluorocarbons, HFCs, with high global warming potentials (GWPs). These HFCs replaced Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). Therefore, there is yet another transition afoot to using low GWP Hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs).
I will describe the history of the transitions in the use of these chemicals and some potential emerging issues in the atmospheric degradation of the very low GWP HFOs.
Sophie Godin-Beekmann (LATMOS/OVSQ)