EXAMPLE OF A RESEARCH INVESTIGATION FOR THE VIRTUAL SCIENCE FAIR 2020

AREA OF INTEREST
The impact of CFC gases and their replacements upon global warming

QUESTIONS
What are CFC gases? How do they affect the stratospheric ozone layer? When they were prohibited, what replaced them? Do CFC
gases contribute to global warming? Are there alternatives? Why hasn’t the US signed the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal
Protocol?

RESEARCH
Chlorofluorocarbons. Manufactured to be used as propellants in sprays and as refrigerants. Chlorine reacts with O3 and destroys
the molecule. Ozone absorbs UV radiation. Skin cancer. Also GHG. Montreal Protocol 1987. Successful – 197 nations signed.
CFC’s replaced with HCFC’s. Same problem. Banned 2000. Replaced by HFC’s. Don’t destroy ozone but serious GHG. Banned
2019. 94 nations ratified; not US.

HYPOTHESIS
If the US does not ratify the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which seeks to prohibit the use of HFC’s, then the
projected 0.5°c negative effect on the increase of atmospheric temperatures by the year 2100 will be cancelled out.

TESTING THE HYPOTHESIS BY RESEARCH

The research will attempt to establish:
1. the contribution made by HFC (and CFC & HCFC) gases to global warming and rising temperatures
2. the proportion of global production of HFC gases which originate in the United States
3. whether the continued production of HFC’s in the US will cancel out the expected negative effect on the increase of
atmospheric temperatures by the year 2100.
The research will also try to establish the reasons why the United States is unwilling to ratify the Kigali Amendment to the
Montreal Protocol.

RESULTS
The finding from the research will be presented in the best way, including
1. tables of emissions and concentrations of CFC, HCFC and HFC gases since 1940 in the atmosphere
2. references to the expected impacts of these gases on temperature rise
3. tables which show where these gases are manufactured
4. listing reasons why the US has not ratified the Kigali Amendment

ANALYSIS OF RESULTS
The results will be analysed by means of:
1. graphs showing how CFC, HCFC and HFC gases have been emitted, with the resulting concentrations of these gases in
the atmosphere, since 1940 and with projections and trends to the year 2100.
2. graphs showing the global production of CFC, HCFC and HFC gases and the proportion contributed by the United
States.
3. Examinations of the reasons why the US has not ratified the Kigali Amendment

CONCLUSION
Appropriate conclusions will be justified by the results and their analysis. The hypothesis will either be supported or rejected.

EVALUATION & DISCUSSION

This research is likely to throw up several interesting suggestions and ideas so the evaluation is most probably going to be
recommendations for further research and study. There may have been difficulties in collecting sufficient or suitable results and
there may be suggestions for alternative research.

COMMUNICATION
The project will be presented as a scientific poster and supported by a short video.