Ozone Hole in Arctic ozone layer finally closes which was one of the most significant hole above North Pole.
The most significant hole ever observed in the ozone layer over the Arctic has closed, which was spotted in late March. It was the rare hole formation. It happened due to low temperatures at the north pole.
The hole would only have posed a direct threat to humans if it had moved further south to populated areas.
The ozone layer protects the Earth from most of the Sun’s ultraviolet radiation. It is a significant cause of many types of skin cancer.
On April 23, Copernicus – the EU’s Earth monitoring program had announced the closure of the hole. It has no connections whatsoever, with the COVID-19 lockdown.
It is down to the polar vortex, the high-altitude currents that generally bring cold air to the polar regions. This has divided into two parts, giving the Arctic region a relative heatwave causing the rise in temperatures up to 20ºC than is typical for this time of year.
Ozone hole in the Arctic: Why
This year the polar vortex has been compelling, and temperatures inside it have been freezing. It is leading to the generation of stratospheric clouds that destroy the ozone layer after reacting with CFC gases.
The polar vortex has broken up and has weakened, but it will form again, although it will not affect the ozone layer as much. The European Centre has predicted this for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.
It is very unusual for such a substantial ozone depletion to occur in the northern hemisphere. But this year’s polar vortex was persuasive and persistent, and temperatures were low enough to allow stratospheric clouds to form for several months.
Arctic ozone hole so rare: Why
The famous ozone hole, which is above the Antarctic at the South Pole, occurs during the austral spring. The duration is from July to September. During this time of the year, the stratosphere is naturally colder. The ozone destruction of this scale doesn’t happen at the North Pole.
The ozone hole was first observed at the North Pole in 2011, but it was smaller and during January. In 2020, the stable and strong polar vortex has caused the concentration of ozone-depleting chemicals than usual. It has been adding to the extreme cold has created the conditions for this single hole.
The single 2020 northern hemisphere Ozone Hole has come to an end. The Polar Vortex split, allowing ozone-rich air into the Arctic, closely matching last week’s forecast from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service.
Ozone Hole related consequences : What
It is too early to attribute phenomenon to climate change or to assess the consequences. At the moment we don’t know why the dynamics were so unusual in winters of 2019.
The direct consequence has has increased UV exposure in the areas through which ozone hole has passed through, during the period like, Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and parts of Russia. The ozone hole likewise reinforced the exceptional polar vortex, and will be determining factor in Europe having the warmest winter since records began.