Ozone layer heals itself as hole over arctic circle closes, confirm scientists: Report – Jagran English, Jagran.com

New Delhi | Jagran Lifestyle Desk: The largest hole in the Ozone layer spreading over 1 million square kilometers above the Arctic caused due to unusual atmospheric conditions has closed, said a report published in the week.in. The hole was first identified by scientists in March earlier this year. Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Services (CAMS) and Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) by the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) confirmed the development.

Sharing a post on the micro-blogging website, Copernicus ECMWF wrote, “The unprecedented 1253273035248975873 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. “

  – Copernicus ECMWF (@CopernicusECMWF)   April ,

But, the closing of the hole has nothing to do too with the reduction in levels of pollution amid lockdown. It’s because of the polar vortex, high-altitude currents that are responsible for bringing cold air to polar regions.

Such holes in the ozone layer are quite common above the Antarctic at the South Pole especially during July to September but, the ozone layer hole above the Arctic at this time was unusual.

 

It is believed that the polar vortex, the high-altitude currents that are responsible for bringing cold air to the polar regions, is responsible for the healing of the layer.

The ozone layer works as a protective shield as it prevents Sun’s ultraviolet rays – which can cause skin cancer– from entering Earth. The hole above the arctic circle could have posed severe damage to humans if it has increased to populated areas.

The Antarctic ozone hole is mainly caused by human-made chemicals including chlorine and bromine that migrate into the stratosphere – a layer of the atmosphere around 10 – kilometers above sea level.

 

According to Copernicus, the last time similarly strong chemical ozone depletion was observed over the Arctic was during spring 2020.

Posted By: James Kuanal