A photo from open sources
The hole in the ozone layer above Antarctica reached a record sizes. According to scientists, at the moment the hole has expanded to 26 million km2, which is essentially twice the area of the south mainland, and also comparable in size to North America.
Researchers from the aerospace center of Germany using global observing system noticed that the ozone hole over Antarctica, which until recently was 23.4 million km2, expanded to 26 million square kilometers. It exceeded 2006 record numbers.
Ozone Hole Expansion Over Antarctica – Annual phenomenon, but in the last ten years, the process seemed to slow down. Scientists even began to believe that the situation is stabilizing, but in this year their opinion has changed. Hole in the ozone layer has reached record size and amounted to 26 million square kilometers.
It’s no secret that the ozone layer is a natural shield, which protects the surface of our planet from hard ultraviolet radiation, which carries a huge danger to the existence of living organisms. Back in the 80s of the last century scientists noticed that over the surface of the icy continent a small ozone hole formed. Every year its sizes rapidly expanding, the reason for which was the release of large the number of freons in the atmosphere. It is known that with abnormal temperature indicators, the molecules of this substance destroy ozone film in the upper atmosphere.
The ozone layer is at an altitude of 10-50 kilometers in stratosphere. In winter at abnormal temperatures concentration of chlorofluorocarbons that contain in their composition, as you might guess, chlorine, carbon and fluorine are the main chemical substances from hair sprays and refrigeration equipment, is growing rapidly.
With the advent of spring when exposed to sunlight, similar substances create a destructive effect, and at this time ozone the hole becomes as large as possible, but then after for several months it is declining again. With prolonged destruction of Earth’s natural shield the risk of cancer and cataracts are increasing. Moreover, science has proven that it can cause blindness in animals.
NASA experts previously reported that the resulting ozone the hole could be cut in half by 2020, but according to new information, it will take at least another 20 years.
Antarctica Time Ozone Hole
