Something is happening to him ozone layer holeIt is a problem that has been moving towards a solution since it became a serious problem in the late 20th century. Although the general trend continues to be decreasing, the reality is that It has been growing again for several years and scientists cannot explain why.
The ozone hole over Antarctica is an occasional phenomenon that normally begins to form in mid-August and begins to decrease steadily throughout November. But, In 2023, the hole in the ozone layer formed a few days earlier than usual and refuses to close on the dates it usually closes. It currently remains at just over 15 million square kilometers as of late October. The website of the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) closely follows the development of this event and analyzes its possible causes.
Every year in the southern spring, ozone-depleting substances begin to accumulate in the stratosphere above the South Pole, resulting in the formation of an ice hole, the ozone layer, along with solar radiation, extremely cold temperatures and polar stratospheric clouds. ,A Severe decrease in ozone concentration in the stratosphere. This is a basic layer that filters ultraviolet rays from the sun.
Hole in the ozone layer Usually closes towards the end of NovemberIncreasing temperatures in the stratosphere cause the direction of winds in this atmospheric layer to change and the polar vortex to rupture, which consists of strong winds that circulate in high parts of the atmosphere over Antarctica and isolate cold air. above the South Pole.
However, there will be an ozone hole in 2023. had an unusual start with an earlier increase in size and the sixth largest in area since satellite records are available (starting in 1979), reaching a total area of 26.15 million km2.
Although the surface of the ozone hole decreased as usual in early October, It increased again towards the end of the month It has preserved an area of approximately 15 million km2, which is expected to remain until the first week of December.
The worrying thing is that this is not the first time this has happened, but rather seems to be setting a trend since the beginning of the current decade. Unusual extension of this year’s ozone hole resembles holes in the past three years. A note from Copernicus explains that since 2020, these places have been closing much later than usual, between mid-to-late December.
Why is this happening?
Holes in the ozone layer have persisted for a very long time in recent years due to below-average temperatures in the stratosphere and a strong polar vortex that lasts until December. “Several possible factors have been identified Water vapor injected into the stratosphere by the Hunga-Tonga volcano (violent eruption in January 2022) is responsible for the increased intensity of the polar vortex, including oscillations in wind patterns in the southern hemisphere and climate change; but more research is needed on this front,” the Copernicus note says.
CAMS director Vincent-Henri Peuch said: “Since the signing of the Montreal Protocol, We have significantly reduced emissions of substances that deplete the ozone layerIt gave room for the atmosphere to begin to recover. This is a long process involving many changing factors that must be monitored for an adequate understanding of the evolution of the ozone layer. “The success of the Montreal Protocol is proof of how effective actions to protect the global climate can be.”
In short, scientists are paying attention to the behavior of this hole to confirm whether these are intermittent and temporary oscillations or whether they fit into a longer trend.
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