Largest Hole in Ozone Layer Above Arctic Closes
The largest-ever hole in the ozone layer over the Arctic was discovered in late March. However, the good news is that it has now closed.
The largest-ever hole in the ozone layer over the Arctic has been closed. It was formed due to unusual climatic activities. However, the reason behind the occurrence of a record-breaking hole is yet to be unveiled. The hole was first identified by scientists earlier in March. The new of the hole closing was announced in April, a few days ago.
The news was announced by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) and Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). They had been monitoring the hole ever since it emerged but couldn’t figure out the actual reason behind it.
The announcement was made on Twitter:
“The unprecedented 2020 northern hemisphere #OzoneHole has come to an end. The #PolarVortex split, allowing #ozone-rich air into the Arctic, closely matching last week’s forecast from the #CopernicusAtmosphere Monitoring Service,”
The unprecedented 2020 northern hemisphere #OzoneHole has come to an end. The #PolarVortex split, allowing #ozone-rich air into the Arctic, closely matching last week's forecast from the #CopernicusAtmosphere Monitoring Service.
More on the NH Ozone hole➡️https://t.co/Nf6AfjaYRi pic.twitter.com/qVPu70ycn4
— Copernicus ECMWF (@CopernicusECMWF) April 23, 2020
It most likely occurred due to polar vortex which creates extremely cold temperatures. However, this year it was powerful enough to create a hole that had been never seen before. In recent days, the polar vortex has broken up and weakened. Copernicus ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts) predicts it will form again, but without affecting the ozone layer as much.
What is the Ozone layer?
The ozone layer is a protective shield in the Earth’s stratosphere that contains ozone. This ozone layer protects the Earth from the harsh ultraviolet rays of the sun by absorbing them, which in return reduces the damage that these rays cause. These ultraviolet radiations are also the primary cause of skin cancer. Hence, without the ozone layer, nothing would be able to survive on the Earth.
Is the hole related to climate change?
Yes, however, it’s too soon to attribute the hole with any climate change. The important part is to understand the formation of the hole. The polar vortex generates extremely cold temperatures inside. This generates stratospheric clouds that destroy the ozone layer by reacting with CFC gases, banned by the 1987 Montreal Protocol. In the presence of UV light, these gases dissociate, releasing chlorine atoms, which then go on to catalyze ozone destruction.
It is also important to note that the hole keeps occurring due to the gases, but a hole of this size had never been seen before. It is reported that the polar vortex was weakened and split into two, which resulted in a 20°C higher temperature than the usual, giving the Arctic region a relative heatwave. The closing of the hole is not due to COVID-19 and the lockdown around the world, which has undoubtedly reduced pollution.
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