2003 Antarctic Ozone Hole Equals Record Size

Space Daily ^ | 09/17/2003

[cogitator]

Antarctic Ozone Hole Roars Back

Measurements over and near Antarctica show that ozone is decreasing more rapidly this year than in previous years and that the size of the ozone hole is now as large as the all time record size of 28 million sq. km during September 2000. This is in stark contrast to the ozone hole last year when it was the smallest in more than a decade after splitting in two during late September.

In recent years, the ozone hole is at or near its maximum size during mid-September, with the maximum sometimes reached in late September. It cannot be predicted with certainty whether the ozone hole will continue to grow during the next few weeks.

Recent variations in size, depth and persistence of the ozone hole are due to year-to-year changes in meteorological conditions in the lower stratosphere over Antarctica, rather than changes in the amount of ozone depleting chemicals present in the ozone layer.

The use of ozone depleting chemicals is presently being controlled through the enforcement of international agreements. Measurements show that most of these chemicals are decreasing in the lower atmosphere and they appear to have reached their peak in the critically important ozone layer in the stratosphere.

There is a delay in the cleansing of these chemicals from the ozone layer, and it is expected to require decades before the stratosphere returns to pre-ozone hole conditions. Complete recovery of the ozone layer will require continuing diligence with the enforcement of the international agreements.

In recognition of the importance of international co-operation on environmental issues and to commemorate the date of the signing of the Montreal Protocol in 1987, 16 September has been designated by the United Nations as International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.

On this occasion, Prof. G.O.P. Obasi, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization urged all nations to pursue their efforts in the monitoring of the chemical composition of the atmosphere and in the implementation of the Vienna Convention on the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol and Amendments on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

[Old Professer]

R-12 for Styrofoam; BTW, the researcher I was talking to was a co-author of a Science magazine report that was tailor-made to look for HCl and HF and is one of strongest proponents of the PSCs.

I mentioned this conversation to Dr. Singer a couple of years later and he didn't know if the guy was serious or not; it was the detection of HF at altitude that brought Singer around a bit, but he asked me not to quote him.

It is important to remember that if indeed the PSCs are critical to the wholesale breakdown of ozone, then ordinary latitudes are not likely to be affected; of course, this of little comfort to those who have ensconced themselves in the affected zones.

[gatex]

Thanks -- I had only seen one graph, but without time scale. The Electronic Textbook looks interesting from a quick scan of a few screens -- will save for more review.