A 20-year record of atmospheric measurements of the hydrofluorocarbon (HFC-152a), at 11 globally distributed sites, shows an atmospheric mixing ratio increasing from 1.2 in 1994 to 10.1 ppt at the end of 2014. HFC-123 (used in aerosol, foam-blowing and in some refrigerant blends) was estimated to have global emissions of 52 Gg in 2014. However, it appears that these emissions are larger by about 20 Gg than those estimated from industrial sources. Our analysis suggests that this is due to unreported Asian emissions and significantly underestimated USA emissions. Since these two regions account for greater than 70% of global HFC-152a emissions it is important that bottom-up national emissions inventories be improved.

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