Record ozone loss over Antarctic this year: agency (ESA)

Reuters on Yahoo ^ | 10/2/06 | Reuters

[NormsRevenge]

PARIS (Reuters) - A satellite has detected record losses of ozone over Antarctica this year, the European Space Agency (ESA) said on Monday, further damaging the shield that protects the Earth from cancer-causing ultraviolet rays.

In the past decade, the level of ozone in the Earth's atmosphere has fallen by about 0.3 percent, increasing the risk of skin cancer, cataracts and harm to marine life, ESA added.

The presence of a hole in the ozone layer over the Antarctic was first recognized in 1985. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said earlier this month that the hole was nearing its record size of 29 million square km (11.20 million square miles) set in 2000.

The depth of the hole, however, was greater this year than in 2000, bringing the amount of lost ozone to 40 million tonnes on October 2, beating 2000's record of 39 million tonnes, ESA said in a statement.

The ozone loss over Antarctica is calculated by measuring the hole's area and depth.

"Such significant ozone loss requires very low temperatures in the stratosphere combined with sunlight," ESA Atmospheric Engineer Claus Zehner said.

"This year's extreme loss of ozone can be explained by the temperatures above Antarctica reaching the lowest recorded in the area since 1979," Zehner added.

The WMO and the U.N. Environment Program (UNEP) said in August that the protective layer would likely return to pre-1980 levels by 2049 over much of Europe, North America, Asia, Australasia, Latin America and Africa.

In Antarctica, the agencies said ozone layer recovery would likely be delayed until 2065.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) containing chlorine and bromine have been blamed for thinning the ozone layer because they attack ozone molecules, causing them to break apart.

Many CFCs, once commonly used in refrigeration, air conditioning and industrial cleaning, were banned by the 1985 Vienna Convention and its Montreal Protocol of 1987. Despite that, CFCs have still not vanished from the air, ESA said.

[NormsRevenge]

A Chinstrap Pengiun on Half Moon Island in the South Shetlands, off the Antarctic peninsula, in a file photo. A Chinstrap Pengiun on Half Moon Island in the South Shetlands, off the Antarctic peninsula, in a file photo. (File/Reuters)

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posted as found .. I did not double caption photo

chinstrap penguins? that's a new one on me..

[NormsRevenge]

Oh, and put some extra sunscreen on, just in case.

I'll try and make sure to in Hawaii next month..

[Abathar]

""This year's extreme loss of ozone can be explained by the temperatures above Antarctica reaching the lowest recorded in the area since 1979," Zehner added. "

But, but, how can this be? The ice shelves are melting, global warming is going to kill us all, and the temperature is now too darn COLD? I guess Algore has a reason for this in his book, got to plunk down $20 to hear it though.....

[NormsRevenge]

A September 6, 2000 NASA image of the (now) 2nd largest ozone hole ever over Antartica is shown in this undated file photo. A satellite has detected record losses of ozone over Antarctica this year, the European Space Agency (ESA) said on Monday, further damaging the shield that protects the Earth from cancer-causing ultraviolet rays. REUTERS/HO/NASA

[NormsRevenge]

View of the Ozone layer shot by European Space Agency (ESA) satellite ERS-2. The seasonal ozone hole over Antarctica is reaching a record size previously seen in 2000 and 2003, the World Meteorological Organisation has said.(AFP)

[Bigh4u2]

"The presence of a hole in the ozone layer over the Antarctic was first recognized in 1985."


I had read an article years ago that the military had discovered the ozone hole in 1953 by satellite.

I wish I could remember where I read it.

[Exton1]

Did you notice the double talk first they say:
"Such significant ozone loss requires very low temperatures in the stratosphere combined with sunlight," ESA Atmospheric Engineer Claus Zehner said.
"This year's extreme loss of ozone can be explained by the temperatures above Antarctica reaching the lowest recorded in the area since 1979," Zehner added.

Then they end the article with an attack on Chlorofluorocarbons, which have banned since 1985. So how do they explain this? CFC’s have not been used for over 20 years, YET now the hole is getting bigger. They can’t have it both ways, which means that CFC’s were not the culprit they made it out to be.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) containing chlorine and bromine have been blamed for thinning the ozone layer because they attack ozone molecules, causing them to break apart.
Many CFCs, once commonly used in refrigeration, air conditioning and industrial cleaning, were banned by the 1985 Vienna Convention and its Montreal Protocol of 1987. Despite that, CFCs have still not vanished from the air, ESA said.

[L98Fiero]

"The presence of a hole in the ozone layer over the Antarctic was first recognized in 1985."

Biggest scam ever perpetrated on the people of the world.

[NormsRevenge]

ern, RA..

good question here,, either of you recall seeing when the ozone hole was spotted .. I wasn't even in the pod in '53 . Thanks! ;-)

[Bigh4u2]

"They can’t have it both ways, which means that CFC’s were not the culprit they made it out to be."

The last line of the quote explains it.

"Despite that, CFCs have still not vanished from the air, ESA said."

Their 'claim' is that ,although CFC's are not used, they still exist in the atmosphere. Even after 20 YEARS!

[NormsRevenge]

Biggest scam ever perpetrated on the people of the world.

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Source? Please. ;-)

[Thinkin' Gal]

Then they end the article with an attack on Chlorofluorocarbons, which have banned since 1985. So how do they explain this? CFC’s have not been used for over 20 years, YET now the hole is getting bigger. They can’t have it both ways, which means that CFC’s were not the culprit they made it out to be.

The penguins didn't get the memo. They obviously use a lot of hairspray.

[Bigh4u2]

I've tried looking it up, but considering the fact that the 'global warming' nuts are everywhere, it may be impossible to find.

It was either in the early days of the 'net' or maybe Popular Science years ago.

I just can't remember.(old age setting in) :)

[GQuagmire]

Since no else has stepped up:BUSH'S FAULT!

[Right Wing Assault]

the temperatures above Antarctica reaching the lowest recorded in the area since 1979

Southern hemisphere folks, start burning more oil! We need more heat for the South Pole!

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

In the 1990's there were several proposals to use solar-powered rigid airships (dirigibles) or blimps to carry ozone-making equipment to the upper atmosphere. The ozone-making equipment is essentially over-sized spark plugs (or ion engines), so there are no technological barriers. A surprisingly small amount of ozone would be required to repair the ozone layer -- so the solution could be economically feasible.

[L98Fiero]

"Source? Please. ;-)"

Umm, errr, the source wished to remain anonymous but it was a high-ranking official. ;)

[Bigh4u2]

"so the solution could be economically feasible."

Just not 'Politically' viable.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

I think you've nailed it. The politically correct response to these chicken-little scenarios is some mix of self-flagelation, pious lamentation, and hand-wringing. Actually solving the problem is not allowed (unless it involves destroying significant parts of the economy).

[catpuppy]

... the military had discovered the ozone hole in 1953 by satellite.

Not likely. The world's first artificial satellite was Sputnik, launched in October 1957 by the USSR.