Extraordinary halocarbon emissions initiated by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake

The Tohoku earthquake of 11 March 2011, with moment magnitude M-w=9.0, and subsequent tsunami caused catastrophic structural damage in east Japan. Using high-frequency atmospheric monitoring data, we show that emissions of halocarbons, potent greenhouse gases and stratospheric ozone-depleting substances, dramatically increased shortly after the earthquake and that annual emissions were significantly higher in 2011 than in other years. We estimate that the sum of earthquake-related emissions of the six studied halocarbon species (CFC-11, HCFC-22, HCFC-141b, HFC-134a, HFC-32, and SF6) was 6.6 (5.2-8.0)Gg, which is equivalent to ozone depletion potential-weighted emissions of 1.3 (1.1-1.6)Gg with a global warming potential equivalent to 19.2 (15.8-22.5)Tg of carbon dioxide. These extraordinary halocarbon emissions are likely due to destruction of building components containing halocarbons, such as air conditioners, foam insulation, and electrical equipment.