Measurements from the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite show that this year’s ozone hole over Antarctica is one of the biggest on record. The hole, which is what scientists call an ‘ozone depleting area,’ reached a size of 26 million sq km on 16 September 2023. This is roughly three times the size of Brazil.
  • macarthur_park@lemmy.worldEnglish
    391·
    1 year ago

    Lots of doom and gloom in the comments here. As the article describes, the hole in the ozone layer varies in size over time. It is slowly recovering, but the annual variability means it sometimes is larger than before.

    The variability of the size of the ozone hole is largely determined by the strength of a strong wind band that flows around the Antarctic area. This strong wind band is a direct consequence of Earth’s rotation and the strong temperature differences between polar and moderate latitudes.

    If the band of wind is strong, it acts like a barrier: air masses between polar and temperate latitudes can no longer be exchanged. The air masses then remain isolated over the polar latitudes and cool down during the winter.

    Although it may be too early to discuss the reasons behind the current ozone concentrations, some researchers speculate that this year’s unusual ozone patterns could be associated with the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai in January 2022.

    And

    Claus concludes, “Based on the Montreal Protocol and the decrease of anthropogenic ozone-depleting substances, scientists currently predict that the global ozone layer will reach its normal state again by around 2050.”

    • NOT_RICK@lemmy.worldEnglish
      7·
      1 year ago

      If only all the other ways we’re trashing this planet were as easy to solve as it was to simply ban CFCs

      • Honytawk@lemmy.zipEnglish
        8·
        1 year ago

        They aren’t that difficult either, it just will have a bigger impact because we have been relying on them for longer.

        Banning oil and single-use plastics would go a long way.

        • NOT_RICK@lemmy.worldEnglish
          7·
          1 year ago

          Yeah, but I’m wondering what can replace rubber tires. I was just reading about how they’re a massive source of microplastics and other pollutants in the environment

    • Spzi@lemm.eeEnglish
      3·
      1 year ago

      This strong wind band is a direct consequence of Earth’s rotation and the strong temperature differences between polar and moderate latitudes.

      Sounds like something global warming can make worse.

      Isn’t the northern hemisphere jet stream struggling due to decreasing temperature differences, since the poles are warming faster? Which then causes weather to change less, making things more extreme?

    • vivadanang@lemm.eeEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      so you don’t think the increase in methane is gonna effect this?

      I dunno about you, but ‘lots of doom and gloom’ sells short of utterly fucking shocking temp rises in the ocean, the slowing of the gulf stream and the heat-stroke of a winter the southern hemisphere just endured.

      meteorologist Brian McNoldy of the University of Miami called global air and ocean temperature trends “bonkers,” stating: “People who look at this stuff routinely can’t believe their eyes. Something very weird is happening.” https://www.axios.com/2023/06/13/climate-extremes-warming-charts-concerns

      I’m not trying to fear-monger but I think we’d all be better off frankly recognizing the shit isn’t going to hit the fan, it’s hitting it rapidly and the backblast is beginning to impact. It’s not doom-and-gloom if it’s actual reality people are trying to live through.