The Problem Of The Ozone Hole In Antarctica Remains

Ozone levels in this region are expected to recover to pre-1980 levels after 2070.

Ozone levels in this region are expected to recover to pre-1980 levels after 2070. The creation of a large ozone hole over Antarctica continues, warns the International Ozone Commission -President of which is professor Christos Zerefos- on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Vienna Convention to protect the ozone layer.

The International Ozone Commission notes that there have been important successes, since substances that deplete the ozone continue to decline, while ozone levels show a significant increase in the upper layer of the stratosphere.

Despite the increase of ozone at high altitudes, the global levels of ozone at all altitudes in the atmosphere have remained relatively stable since 2000, showing periodic variations. The Commission notes that the long-term ozone depletion that was observed until the 90s, has now stopped.

On the other hand, an ozone hole continues to be created over Antarctica every spring in the southern hemisphere. Ozone levels in this region are expected to recover to pre-1980 levels after 2070.

This year observations by various means (terrestrial, satellite, etc.) confirm that a large ozone hole is growing again over Antarctica. In 2014, this hole is 24 million square kilometers, about as much as it was in 2013.

The International Ozone Commission invites the relevant national and international authorities to continue their support to scientific research and observations for better understanding of the temporal evolution of atmospheric ozone over the current century.

Source: protothema.gr