The ozone hole over Antarctica started to form early this year.
.in_text_content_22 { width: 300px; height: 600px; } @media(min-width: 600px) { .in_text_content_22 { width: 580px; height: 400px; } }
The Guardian writes about this, citing satellite data from the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (Copernicus). Usually the “hole” appears in mid-August and begins to grow in September, that is, at the beginning of the Antarctic spring. Currently, it is formed from the first days of August – when it is still winter in Antarctica, they said in the Ukrainian Antarctic Expedition.
The information is also confirmed by the measurement data of the ozone level at our Akademik Vernadsky station. According to the ozonometrist of the 28th UAE Alexander Poludnya, since the beginning of the current observations (they started on July 22, when the sun began to rise high enough above the horizon), the total ozone level was normal for only one day – August 2. Then the indicator was 279 Dobson units, and the norm was 270-290.
On other days, the ozone level was reduced by about a quarter compared to the same period in previous years. And on August 7, it generally dropped to 201 Dobson units – this is already an indicator of the “ozone hole” (less than 220 units).
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology suggests that this early formation of the “hole” may be due to atmospheric changes due to last year’s eruption of the Tonga volcano, when a lot of water vapor entered the stratosphere. This contributed to the formation of ice clouds, which are the destroyers of ozone.
Scientists also predict that the early formation of the “hole” will negatively affect sea ice, the amount of which in Antarctica has already reached an all-time low. In particular, due to the low level of ozone, more ultraviolet radiation will enter the ocean, heat it up, and the water will “melt” the ice.
We continue to monitor the “ozone hole” and will definitely inform about its condition in the future.
It was according to the data of the Ukrainian station, when it still belonged to the UK, that the phenomenon of the “ozone hole” was discovered (mid-1980s). Measurement of the ozone level continues and takes place with the help of a special apparatus – a Dobson spectrophotometer. Each Ukrainian Antarctic expedition must include an ozonometer who conducts observations, processes and sends data, and also maintains the device.
Such ground-based monitoring is extremely important, because it allows not only to track the state of the “ozone hole”, but also to check the accuracy of satellites in measuring ozone levels and to observe where the satellites cannot “look”.
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.