NASA Reports Smaller Ozone Hole in 2024: Path to Full Recovery by 2066
To classify holes in the ozone layer, NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have been using satellite data since 1979. According to this record, this year’s hole ranked 20th among the smallest in terms of area. Nov 19, 2024 Photo: @NASA
November 19, 2024 Hour: 6:56 pm
This recovery process was initiated following the entry into force of the Montreal Protocol, a landmark international agreement designed to phase out ozone-depleting chemicals.
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NASA announced on Tuesday that the ozone hole above the South Pole was relatively small in 2024 compared to previous years.
The agency indicated that if current trends continue, the ozone layer could fully recover by 2066. In its statement, NASA noted that during the peak of the ozone-depleting season, which runs from September 7 to October 13, the size of the ozone hole in 2024 ranked as the seventh smallest since recovery efforts began in 1992.
This recovery process was initiated following the entry into force of the Montreal Protocol, a landmark international agreement designed to phase out ozone-depleting chemicals.
Scientists define the ozone “hole” as the region where ozone concentrations fall below the historical threshold of 220 Dobson units.
This year, the hole reached its largest extent on September 28, covering an area of 22.4 million square kilometers.
The observed improvement is attributed to a combination of the continued decline in chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) use and an “unexpected” infusion of airborne ozone from northern Antarctica.
To classify holes in the ozone layer, NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have been using satellite data since 1979. According to this record, this year’s hole ranked 20th among the smallest in terms of area.
Paul Newman, leader of NASA’s ozone research team, stated that the gradual improvement observed “demonstrates that international efforts to reduce ozone-depleting chemicals are yielding results.”
The space agency emphasized that the stratospheric ozone-rich layer acts as a planetary sunscreen, protecting us from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.
Autor: MLM
Fuente: EFE
