HFCs do effect ozone depletion
Although HFCs are promoted as being zero ODP refrigerants, they do have a small but measurable effect on ozone depletion, according to a new study by NASA.
The new study, published in Geophysical Research Letters, the journal of the American Geophysical Union, focuses on five HFCs expected to contribute the most to global warming in 2050 – R125, R143a, R134a, R32 and R23.
According to NASA, HFC emissions cause increased warming of the stratosphere, speeding up the chemical reactions that destroy ozone molecules, and they also decrease ozone levels in the tropics by accelerating the upward movement of ozone-poor air. According to the model, their impact is such that HFCs will cause a 0.035% decrease in ozone by 2050 …