Scientists noticed a significant decrease in the volume of the ozone hole.
Experts NASA and the National oceanic and atmospheric administration announced that this year the size of the ozone hole over the Antarctic was the lowest for the period of observations since 1988. Last year the hole has decreased by almost 3.5 million square kilometers.
Her research is conducted annually with the help of satellites and climate balloons. The density of the holes varies depending on the time of year, and the main damage seen in August and September. In 2017 the maximum size of the ozone hole recorded on September 11, this figure amounted to nearly 20 million square kilometers. For comparison, this is 2 million square kilometers larger than the area of Russia.
In the atmosphere of the planet there are a large number of ozone holes, but the biggest is located over Antarctica.
Scientists say that the last few years, the annual size of the hole is reduced. The reduction effect of the Antarctic polar center – a special element of the atmospheric circulation of the Earth.
The researchers note that a significant reduction in the area of the ozone hole does not allow to speak about the “healing” of the ozone layer of the planet. This phenomenon is due to natural fluctuations in the size of the damage.
According to experts, the hole will heal slowly and will eventually reach the size recorded in the 80-ies, only in 2070 years.
Even this pace of recovery will remain only in that case, if humanity is to adhere to the terms of the Montreal Protocol on substances that Deplete the ozone layer, which entered into force in 1989.
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