Antinuclear

Key points:

• In 30 years since the Montreal Protocol phased out CFCs, ozone at the poles and upper stratosphere has started to mend
• New analysis shows ozone levels in the lower stratosphere have been in decline
• Atmospheric chemists suspect climate change, volcanic activity and reactive compounds might be behind the drop

The ozone layer high above Antarctica might be mending nicely, but the rest of the world tells a different story.

A long-term overview of satellite data shows that ozone levels are actually dropping in the lower stratosphere: the layer of the atmosphere about 10 to 20 kilometres above Earth’s surface.

The effect was seen across most of the world, too: as far north as the Scottish highlands and as far south as the southernmost tip of Chile.

And while atmospheric chemists can’t yet put their finger on the ozone-draining culprit, global warming is likely playing a leading role, according to atmospheric chemist Stephen Wilson from University of Wollongong.

Overall, the total amount of ozone in the entire atmosphere appears to be holding steady, but that’s because ozone levels in the troposphere — the lower part of the atmosphere, where we live — are rising.

And that’s not good news.

Ozone doesn’t belong down here and the increase in tropospheric ozone is mostly due to air pollution, commented Robyn Schofield, an atmospheric chemist from the University of Melbourne.

“[Burning fossil fuels] produces nitrogen oxides and they go on to produce ozone,” she said.

Breathing ozone not only damages our lungs, it’s bad for crops too, she added…….http://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-02-06/lower-stratosphere-atmosphere-ozone-layer-decline-climate/9400164

• In 30 years since the Montreal Protocol phased out CFCs, ozone at the poles and upper stratosphere has started to mend
• New analysis shows ozone levels in the lower stratosphere have been in decline
• Atmospheric chemists suspect climate change, volcanic activity and reactive compounds might be behind the drop

The ozone layer high above Antarctica might be mending nicely, but the rest of the world tells a different story.

A long-term overview of satellite data shows that ozone levels are actually dropping in the lower stratosphere: the layer of the atmosphere about 10 to 20 kilometres above Earth’s surface.

The effect was seen across most of the world, too: as far north as the Scottish highlands and as far south as the southernmost tip of Chile.

And while atmospheric chemists can’t yet put their finger on the ozone-draining culprit, global warming is likely playing a leading role, according to atmospheric chemist Stephen Wilson from University of Wollongong.

Overall, the total amount of ozone in the entire atmosphere appears to be holding steady, but that’s because ozone levels in the troposphere — the lower part of the atmosphere, where we live — are rising.

And that’s not good news.

Ozone doesn’t belong down here and the increase in tropospheric ozone is mostly due to air pollution, commented Robyn Schofield, an atmospheric chemist from the University of Melbourne.

“[Burning fossil fuels] produces nitrogen oxides and they go on to produce ozone,” she said.

Breathing ozone not only damages our lungs, it’s bad for crops too, she added…….http://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-02-06/lower-stratosphere-atmosphere-ozone-layer-decline-climate/9400164