Hole In The Ozone Layer Closing Without The Excessive Use Of Harmful Chemicals

NBC

Climate experts have been worried about the hole that grew in size in the ozone layer. Messages were immediately sent to the public – lessen the use of technology that emit these chemicals. Many took heed and were alarmed by what they’ve said.

While some have been quite indifferent about making adjustments and changes, the amount of people that listened made a significant difference. The experts who have kept a close watch on the ozone layer finally have some amazing news to share and many can now celebrate.

Scientists were extremely worried when they saw the gaping hole. But now, they have estimated that at its current rate, the hole found in the ozone layer will finally close around 2070. While this may seem too far away, this is actually good news.

The levels of chemical emissions that come from refrigeration and air conditioning have fallen. The best part is that they are continuing to drop. Because of such, scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who measure the ozone hole every year have come to the conclusion that the hole might be closing relatively soon.


This was the first ever warning people got as they felt the effects of the hole on the earth’s climate. Back in 1987, scientists discovered that there were certain chemicals that were blowing causing a hole to open in the ozone layer of the atmosphere. This layer is what protects life from the Sun’s harmful UV rays.

Fact is, a hole opens in the ozone layer opens above Antarctica every year. This has been a pattern since they’ve known. The hole grows bigger than the continent itself and usually forms during the month of August until it reaches maximum size by October. By the time December rolls around, the hole begins to close once more.

However, the hole became an issue in the 80s. All 197 parties that were part of the United Nations signed onto the Montreal Protocol. Their goal was to reduce the emission of certain chemicals. To this very day, this is the only event in history that a treaty garnered unanimous participation from all its members.

More importantly, this is definitely one of the effective treaties that has ever been put in place because they’ve seen a significant decline in the atmospheric concentrations of the refrigerants. In fact, it went down by as much as 50 percent since the 1980s.


Now, 35 years later have passed since the treaty and the experts from NOAA have concluded that size of this hole is actually getting smaller and smaller. Credit can be given to the declining concentrations of airborne chemicals. The numbers have lowered every year. The agency had made recent estimations and have declared that the hole could close permanently by the year 2070.

There has been regular hysteria about climate change. This has continued to be discussed in every corner of the globe, but this piece of good news is a major sign that everything isn’t on the downhill. Rather, this is considered a “significant milestone” as the NOAA scientists said. This is a sign that people are able to develop methods that won’t get in the way of the natural balance of the systems found on earth.

Until it eventually closes, the hole is being monitored by the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS). They will continue to keep a close eye on the situation. “The 2022 Antarctic ozone hole started to develop in late August and has so far followed similar trends from the last decade in terms of area, minimum total column, mass deficit and minimum temperature,” said Vincent-Henri Peuch. He is the Director of the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service.

“According to our data from the start of September, the size of the ozone hole is within the average range. However, we will be watching very closely in the next few weeks as the 2020 and 2021 ozone holes only started to become exceptional later on,” he also added.

 

 

What are your thoughts? Please comment below and share this news!

True Activist / Report a typo

Popular on True Activist