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2011 the Year of
Two Ozone Holes
December 27,
2011 Pocono Pines, PA-The 2011 Antarctic Ozone Hole is now over. The Ozone Hole
began to form in mid August, and by mid September reached it's largest size of
26 million square kilometers on September 12,2011
larger than the average for the last decade and remained near this size
into early October according to data from The British Antarctic Survey and NASA.
The lowest concentration of ozone in the southern stratosphere—that is, the
deepest “hole”—occurred on October 8, 2011 when levels descended to 95
Dobson units. Its size from October to mid November was near to or above the
record area for the time of year. The hole became more elliptical in mid October
and the edge of the ozone hole passed over the tip of South America and the
Falkland Islands, but then returned to a more circular form.
The
2011 Ozone Hole reached it's largest
size of 26 million square kilometers on September 12,2011
The
lowest concentration of ozone in the southern stratosphere—that is, the
deepest “hole”—occurred on October 8, 2011 when levels descended to 95
Dobson units
In March of
2011 unusually low temperatures in the Arctic ozone layer initiated massive
ozone depletion. The 2011 Arctic Ozone Hole occurred over an area considerably
smaller than that of the Antarctic Ozone Holes. This is because the Arctic polar
vortex, a persistent large-scale cyclone within which the ozone loss takes
place, was about 40 percent smaller than a typical Antarctic vortex. While
smaller and shorter-lived than its Antarctic counterpart, the Arctic polar
vortex is more mobile, often moving over densely populated northern regions.
Decreases in overhead ozone lead to increases in surface ultraviolet radiation,
which are known to have adverse effects on humans and other life forms.
An Arctic Ozone
Hole, if similar in size to the Antarctic Ozone Hole, could expose over 700+
million people, wildlife and plants to dangerous UV ray levels, which can cause
skin cancer and disrupt reproduction of some animals and destroy plant life. The
likely hood of this happening seems inevitable based on the deterioration of
ozone layer caused by the effects of global warming on the upper atmosphere.
The ozone layer
is a concentration of ozone molecules in the stratosphere. About 90% of the
planet's ozone is in the ozone layer. The layer of the Earth's atmosphere that
surrounds us is called the troposphere. The stratosphere, the next higher layer,
extends about 10-50 kilometers above the Earth's surface. Stratospheric ozone is
a naturally-occurring gas that filters the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation. A
diminished ozone layer allows more radiation to reach the Earth's surface. For
people, overexposure to UV rays can lead to skin cancer, cataracts, and weakened
immune systems. Increased UV can also lead to reduced crop yield and disruptions
in the marine food chain. UV also has other harmful effects.
The Ozone Hole Inc. is
a nonprofit a 501-(3)(C) organization dedicated to protecting the ozone layer,
the climate and Earth's environment by educating and motivating the public
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