In the first chapter of the textbook, the author mentions that the ozone hole in 2002 was actually smaller than what was recorded in 2001 and 2003. In 2002, the polar wind patterns behaved abnormally transporting warmer, low altitude air into the cooler, higher altitudes of the Antarctic vortex. The free radical chlorine that breaks down the ozone, forming the hole, forms in this vortex above Antarctica at very cool temperatures. With the arrival of this warmer air to the vortex chlorine could not as efficiently destroy the ozone layer.
I started thinking that maybe we (scientists) could use this abnormal data to our advantage to lessen the destruction of the ozone layer each year. In an article in the A-pages of Environmental Science & Technology, scientists have predicted that the ozone will not heal until 2068 when all of the Cl from CFCs has been leached from landfills. Therefore, I think we should strive to reduce the damage that will inevitably result from the remaining CFCs until the "self healing" is complete. Maybe we could reproduce the wind conditions present in 2002 every year in the Antarctic! I have no idea how to do this or even if you can, but I think that an optimistic attitude is a move in the right direction.
P.S. Here is the link to the article: http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/esthag-w/2006/aug/science/nl_ozonehealing.html
1 comment:
An optomistic attitude is important, however I can't imagine a method to simulate these wind patterns that would not be counter productive. Maybe a different approach, like reacting the chlorine in the atmosphere with something that would make it benign to the ozone with out creating a new problem.
Post a Comment