Ozone Hole Reduced
Explanation:
Although a
new ozone hole has formed again this year over the
South Pole,
this time it is a little bit smaller than the
year before.
Ozone is important because it shields us from damaging
ultraviolet sunlight.
Ozone is vulnerable, though, to
CFCs and
halons being released into the atmosphere.
International efforts to reduce the use of these
damaging chemicals really are having a positive effect
on their atmospheric abundance.
This year, however, the slightly reduced size of the
ozone hole is mostly due to relatively mild weather,
which reduces the efficiency of
ozone depletion.
In the
above false-color picture taken earlier this month,
low ozone levels are shown in blue.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
