Currently larger than the whole ice-covered continent, the ozone hole has gone beyond the size of 75% of ozone holes determined since 1979 and is still growing. Related: Air pollution from reentering megaconstellation satellites could cause ozone hole 2.0 While temperature levels at the planets surface are increasing, the stratosphere, where the protective ozone guard resides, is cooling down.” Sometimes the ozone hole is little since there are no polar stratospheric clouds and in some cases, when there are many, it tends to be bigger,” Peuch said.” Peuch, nevertheless, says that the size of the ozone hole differs substantially year to year and patterns are difficult to pick out. It is for that reason difficult to say whether this years extraordinary heatwaves in lots of parts of the world and the gaping ozone hole might be connected.Follow Tereza Pultarova on Twitter @TerezaPultarova.
A giant ozone hole has opened up over Antarctica this year. Already bigger than the entire ice-covered continent, the ozone hole has surpassed the size of 75% of ozone holes measured since 1979 and is still growing. Scientists believe environment change may be the cause. The Montreal Protocol, signed in 1987, is often referred to as the worlds terrific success story in battling human-caused destruction of the environment. The contract banned other compounds and hazardous chlorofluorocarbons known to damage the protective ozone layer, which absorbs harmful ultraviolet UV radiation coming from the sun. The concentrations of the harmful substances in the atmosphere have actually leveled off given that the procedure entered into force and are gradually decreasing, offering the foundation for the layers gradual recovery. Aggravating climate change is now slowing down the healing.” Its still a matter of research study to completely understand the connection between the ozone recovery and climate change, however we know that there is a coupling between ozone deficiency and temperature level,” Vincent-Henri Peuch, director of the European Unions Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, which launched the information on Thursday (Sept. 16), informed Space.com. Related: Air pollution from reentering megaconstellation satellites could cause ozone hole 2.0 While temperature levels at the worlds surface area are increasing, the stratosphere, where the protective ozone guard resides, is cooling down. The stratosphere, the layer of Earths atmosphere about 6.5 to 30 miles (10 to 50 kilometers) in altitude, is where the so-called polar dizzying clouds form in winter season. Researchers understand today that these clouds offer the best chemical environment for the damaging chlorine and bromine-based substances to do their harmful work. They also understand that the chillier the temperature of the stratosphere, the more polar stratospheric clouds tend to form, Peuch said.” Sometimes the ozone hole is little since there are no polar dizzying clouds and sometimes, when there are many, it tends to be bigger,” Peuch stated. “With more polar stratospheric clouds, chlorine and other harmful compounds can work better and trigger more damage even if their concentrations are decreasing.” When the Montreal Protocol was signed, researchers predicted that the ozone layer would totally recover by 2060, Peuch added. Recent measurements, nevertheless, suggest that this recovery procedure is slowing down which a full recovery could be expected no earlier than in 2070. Climate change isnt entirely accountable; some countries continue using and launching the banned compounds illegally. ” In 2018, high levels of prohibited chlorofluorocarbons were found in the environment that were ultimately traced to China,” Peuch stated. “If such unlawful emissions go undiscovered for some time, that could truly jeopardize the entire procedure due to the fact that the chlorine and bromine in the environment could stop levelling off and support and even increase.” Peuch, nevertheless, says that the size of the ozone hole differs significantly year to year and patterns are difficult to select. This year, the ozone hole already covers a location of 8.5 to 8.8 million square miles (22 to 23 million square km), just 700,000 square miles (2 million square km) except the 2006 record level of 9.7 million square miles (25 million square km). Peuch predicts the hole will continue to grow up until early October, when temperatures in the Southern Hemisphere will start to increase. The ozone hole above Antarctica from 1979 to 2021. (Image credit: Copernicus ECMWF) 2020 likewise saw a large, and the longest enduring, ozone hole that only closed in late December. In 2019, on the other hand, the ozone hole was the smallest in recorded history. The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, uses data from numerous satellites that identify ozone in the stratosphere by measuring the passage of the ultraviolet and infrared parts of sunlight through the atmosphere. The less ozone present, the more ultraviolet and infrared light survives. Sophisticated computer designs then integrate the data, similar to in weather condition forecasting. Peuch said scientists are still trying to unpack the connection between environment phenomena experienced on Earth and the processes in the stratosphere. It is therefore difficult to state whether this years unprecedented heatwaves in many parts of the world and the gaping ozone hole may be connected.Follow Tereza Pultarova on Twitter @TerezaPultarova. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook..