• Energy Research

AbstractThe presence of wave‐like structures in the planetary boundary layer and their influence on the scalar fluxes and on the surface energy balance were investigated analyzing one year of continuous measurements collected in southern Brazil. Submeso oscillating patterns in the wind velocity components, temperature and scalar (CO, HO) concentrations were isolated using their auto‐correlation functions. The analysis showed that low wind speeds are necessary to trigger wavy motions. During night‐time, in the presence of large vertical temperature gradients, horizontal meandering and internal gravity waves are dominant features of the stable boundary layer. Furthermore, a significant number of meandering cases were identified also during daytime in neutral conditions associated with low values of net radiation. One case‐study showed how, during daytime, the wave‐like patterns may be triggered by variations in the net radiation. Spectral analysis on the whole dataset showed that oscillations in the wind velocity and temperature field are frequently associated with CO and HO wavy patterns with similar time‐scales. These non‐turbulent oscillations produce unpredictable large‐scale contributions to vertical fluxes of temperature and scalar concentrations. The energy budget analysis showed how the choice of a proper averaging time filters out these contributions and improves the energy budget closure, as well as the estimation of the net ecosystem exchange. The results confirm the influence of submeso motions in scalar dispersion, flux patterns and surface energy balance during low wind speed conditions and stable stratification.

AbstractThe presence of wave‐like structures in the planetary boundary layer and their influence on the scalar fluxes and on the surface energy balance were investigated analyzing one year of continuous measurements collected in southern Brazil. Submeso oscillating patterns in the wind velocity components, temperature and scalar (CO, HO) concentrations were isolated using their auto‐correlation functions. The analysis showed that low wind speeds are necessary to trigger wavy motions. During night‐time, in the presence of large vertical temperature gradients, horizontal meandering and internal gravity waves are dominant features of the stable boundary layer. Furthermore, a significant number of meandering cases were identified also during daytime in neutral conditions associated with low values of net radiation. One case‐study showed how, during daytime, the wave‐like patterns may be triggered by variations in the net radiation. Spectral analysis on the whole dataset showed that oscillations in the wind velocity and temperature field are frequently associated with CO and HO wavy patterns with similar time‐scales. These non‐turbulent oscillations produce unpredictable large‐scale contributions to vertical fluxes of temperature and scalar concentrations. The energy budget analysis showed how the choice of a proper averaging time filters out these contributions and improves the energy budget closure, as well as the estimation of the net ecosystem exchange. The results confirm the influence of submeso motions in scalar dispersion, flux patterns and surface energy balance during low wind speed conditions and stable stratification.

Abstract HFC-134a is the most prevalent hydrofluorocarbon used as a replacement for ozone-depleting CFCs and HCFCs. Due to its high global warming potential, it is regulated under various European and global frameworks, underscoring the importance of tracking its emissions. Emissions derived by the commonly used, bottom-up, methodology are affected by a certain degree of uncertainty. The bottom-up estimates can be aided with an independent top-down estimate based on atmospheric observations combined with an atmospheric transport model. This study presents HFC-134a emissions for Europe, with a specific focus on Italy, from 2008 to 2023. The emissions were estimated using a Bayesian inversion methodology, based on atmospheric observations collected at four European stations. Our analysis reveals a slightly increasing trend in HFC-134a emissions for Italy from 2008 to 2015 of 0.17 $${\mathrm{Gg\,yr}^{-1}}$$ Gg yr - 1 , followed by a steady decrease thereafter, highlighting the effect of European regulation on fluorinated gases that came into force in 2014. We observed a reduction in HFC-134a emissions in the Po Basin inferred from the inversion method for 2020, likely due to mobility restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The observed mild seasonality in emissions may be partly attributed to higher air-conditioning activity during summer. Comparison with the Italian National Emission Inventory indicates an improvement in iterative bottom-up estimates, with the 2024 inventory emission trend post-2015 aligning closely with our inversion results. This study emphasises the need for collaboration between the two independent approaches to enhance the accuracy of emission estimates. Such cooperation is crucial to narrowing the gap in quantifying emissions of potent greenhouse gases and effectively assessing the progress of international policies and regulations.

Abstract HFC-134a is the most prevalent hydrofluorocarbon used as a replacement for ozone-depleting CFCs and HCFCs. Due to its high global warming potential, it is regulated under various European and global frameworks, underscoring the importance of tracking its emissions. Emissions derived by the commonly used, bottom-up, methodology are affected by a certain degree of uncertainty. The bottom-up estimates can be aided with an independent top-down estimate based on atmospheric observations combined with an atmospheric transport model. This study presents HFC-134a emissions for Europe, with a specific focus on Italy, from 2008 to 2023. The emissions were estimated using a Bayesian inversion methodology, based on atmospheric observations collected at four European stations. Our analysis reveals a slightly increasing trend in HFC-134a emissions for Italy from 2008 to 2015 of 0.17 $${\mathrm{Gg\,yr}^{-1}}$$ Gg yr - 1 , followed by a steady decrease thereafter, highlighting the effect of European regulation on fluorinated gases that came into force in 2014. We observed a reduction in HFC-134a emissions in the Po Basin inferred from the inversion method for 2020, likely due to mobility restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The observed mild seasonality in emissions may be partly attributed to higher air-conditioning activity during summer. Comparison with the Italian National Emission Inventory indicates an improvement in iterative bottom-up estimates, with the 2024 inventory emission trend post-2015 aligning closely with our inversion results. This study emphasises the need for collaboration between the two independent approaches to enhance the accuracy of emission estimates. Such cooperation is crucial to narrowing the gap in quantifying emissions of potent greenhouse gases and effectively assessing the progress of international policies and regulations.

HCFC-22 (CHClF2), a stratospherie ozone depleting substance and a powerful greenhouse gas, is the third most abundant anthropogenic halocarbon in the atmosphere. Primarily used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems, its global production and consumption have increased during the last 60 years, with the global increases in the last decade mainly attributable to developing countries. In 2007, an adjustment to the Montreal Protocol for Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer called for an accelerated phase out of HCFCs, implying a 75% reduction (base year 1989) of HCFC production and consumption by 2010 in developed countries against the previous 65% reduction. In Europe HCFC-22 is continuously monitored at the two sites Mace Head (Ireland) and Monte Cimone (Italy). Combining atmospheric observations with a Bayesian inversion technique, we estimated fluxes of HCFC-22 from Europe and from eight macro-areas within it, over an 11-year period from January 2002 to December 2012, during which the accelerated restrictions on HCFCs production and consumption have entered into force. According to our study, the maximum emissions over the entire domain was in 2003 (38.2 +/- 4.7 Gg yr(-1)), and the minimum in 2012 (12.1 +/- 2.0 Gg yr(-1)); emissions continuously decreased between these years, except for secondary maxima in the 2008 and 2010. Despite such a decrease in regional emissions, background values of HCFC-22 measured at the two European stations over 2002-2012 are still increasing as a consequence of global emissions, in part from developing countries, with an average trend of ca 7.0 ppt yr(-1). However, the observations at the two European stations show also that since 2008 a decrease in the global growth rate has occurred. In general, our European emission estimates are in good agreement with those reported by previous studies that used different techniques. Since the currently dominant emission source of HCFC-22 is from banks, we assess the banks' size and their contribution to the total European emissions up to 2030, and we project a fast decrease approaching negligible emissions in the last five years of the considered period. Finally, inversions conducted over three month periods showed evidence for a seasonal cycle in emissions in regions in the Mediterranean basin but not outside it. Emissions derived from regions in the Mediterranean basin were ca. 25% higher in warmer months than in colder months. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

HCFC-22 (CHClF2), a stratospherie ozone depleting substance and a powerful greenhouse gas, is the third most abundant anthropogenic halocarbon in the atmosphere. Primarily used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems, its global production and consumption have increased during the last 60 years, with the global increases in the last decade mainly attributable to developing countries. In 2007, an adjustment to the Montreal Protocol for Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer called for an accelerated phase out of HCFCs, implying a 75% reduction (base year 1989) of HCFC production and consumption by 2010 in developed countries against the previous 65% reduction. In Europe HCFC-22 is continuously monitored at the two sites Mace Head (Ireland) and Monte Cimone (Italy). Combining atmospheric observations with a Bayesian inversion technique, we estimated fluxes of HCFC-22 from Europe and from eight macro-areas within it, over an 11-year period from January 2002 to December 2012, during which the accelerated restrictions on HCFCs production and consumption have entered into force. According to our study, the maximum emissions over the entire domain was in 2003 (38.2 +/- 4.7 Gg yr(-1)), and the minimum in 2012 (12.1 +/- 2.0 Gg yr(-1)); emissions continuously decreased between these years, except for secondary maxima in the 2008 and 2010. Despite such a decrease in regional emissions, background values of HCFC-22 measured at the two European stations over 2002-2012 are still increasing as a consequence of global emissions, in part from developing countries, with an average trend of ca 7.0 ppt yr(-1). However, the observations at the two European stations show also that since 2008 a decrease in the global growth rate has occurred. In general, our European emission estimates are in good agreement with those reported by previous studies that used different techniques. Since the currently dominant emission source of HCFC-22 is from banks, we assess the banks' size and their contribution to the total European emissions up to 2030, and we project a fast decrease approaching negligible emissions in the last five years of the considered period. Finally, inversions conducted over three month periods showed evidence for a seasonal cycle in emissions in regions in the Mediterranean basin but not outside it. Emissions derived from regions in the Mediterranean basin were ca. 25% higher in warmer months than in colder months. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.