Earth has a new hole, 7 times larger than the hole in the Antarctic ozone layer

According to Sci-News, Professor Qing-Bin Lu from the University of Waterloo - Canada discovered a large seasonally active ozone hole in the lower part of the stratosphere in the tropics (30 degrees North - 30 degrees South).

The depth of this tropical ozone hole is comparable to the famous Antarctic spring ozone hole, while its area is about 7 times that of the Antarctic ozone hole!

The images and measurements reveal a "transseasonal" ozone hole in the tropics

Professor Qing-Bin Lu said the new hole may have existed in the lower stratosphere of the tropics since the 1980s, with a loss of ozone 25% greater than in the intact atmosphere.

In the mid-1970s, atmospheric research showed that the ozone layer, which absorbs most of the Sun's ultraviolet radiation, could be depleted by industrial chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). The discovery of the Antarctic ozone hole in 1985 confirmed ozone depletion caused by chlorofluorocarbons.

Although bans on such chemicals have helped slow ozone depletion, evidence for ozone depletion persists.

"The tropics make up half of the planet's surface area and are home to about half of the world's population, the existence of a tropical ozone hole that could cause great global concern." - Professor Lu explained.

Tropical ozone depletion could cause major global concern, leading to increased terrestrial UV radiation, which may increase the risk of skin cancer and cataracts in humans, weaken human immune system, reducing agricultural productivity and negatively affecting sensitive aquatic organisms and systems.

The discovery of the year-long ozone hole in the tropics surprised the scientific community, as it was not predicted by conventional photochemical models. The new hole could create more "temperature holes", adding fuel to the fire of a "burning" Earth.

"The current discovery requires more careful studies of ozone depletion, changes in UV radiation, increased cancer risk and other negative health and systemic effects in regions of the world. tropical," said Professor Lu.

The study has just been published in the journal AIP Advances.