2015 Antarctic Ozone Hole Area Approaches
2015 Antarctic Ozone Hole Area Approaches . The Antarctic ozone hole, which typically reaches its annual peak area between mid-September and early October, formed more slowly this year but quickly expanded to cover a larger area of low ozone values than the past few years, according to NASA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientists.
While the current ozone hole area is large, this area is consistent with scientists’ understanding of ozone depletion chemistry and the colder than average 2015 stratospheric weather conditions, which contribute to ozone depletion. Also 2015 Antarctic Ozone Hole Area Approaches more to a maximum.
The Antarctic ozone hole, located above the South Pole, expands during every Southern Hemisphere Antarctic spring. Additional information will be forthcoming about this year’s ozone hole in late October. Dobson units are a measurement of the concentration of atmospheric ozone.
The ozone hole occurs during the antarctic spring, from September to early December, as strong westerly wind start to circulate around the continent and create an atmospheric container. In this container over 50% of the lower stratospheric ozone is destroyed.This year will go down as having the 12th-largest ozone hole in 40 years of satellite records, with the 14th-lowest ozone readings in 33 years of balloon-borne instrumental measurements, the scientists said.
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