Big depletion in Earth's ozone layer
Source: Agencies |
April 6, 2011, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE depletion of the ozone layer shielding Earth from damaging ultraviolet rays has reached an unprecedented low over the Arctic this spring due to harmful chemicals and a cold winter, the World Meteorological Organization said yesterday.
The Earth's fragile ozone layer in the Arctic region has lost about 40 percent from the start of winter until late March, exceeding the previous seasonal loss of around 30 percent, the Geneva-based agency said.
It blamed the loss on a buildup of ozone-eating chemicals once widely used as coolants and fire retardants in a variety of appliances and on very cold temperatures in the stratosphere, the second major layer of the Earth's atmosphere.
Arctic ozone conditions vary more than the seasonal ozone "hole" that forms high in the stratosphere near the South Pole each winter and spring.
"The degree of ozone loss experienced in any particular winter depends on the meteorological conditions," the WMO said.
The Earth's fragile ozone layer in the Arctic region has lost about 40 percent from the start of winter until late March, exceeding the previous seasonal loss of around 30 percent, the Geneva-based agency said.
It blamed the loss on a buildup of ozone-eating chemicals once widely used as coolants and fire retardants in a variety of appliances and on very cold temperatures in the stratosphere, the second major layer of the Earth's atmosphere.
Arctic ozone conditions vary more than the seasonal ozone "hole" that forms high in the stratosphere near the South Pole each winter and spring.
"The degree of ozone loss experienced in any particular winter depends on the meteorological conditions," the WMO said.
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