A Small Double Ozone Hole in 2002
Explanation:
As expected, the
ozone hole near Earth's
South Pole is back again this year.
This time, however, it's smaller than the
past two years,
and has an unusual double lobe structure.
Ozone is important because it shields us from damaging
ultraviolet
sunlight.
Ozone is vulnerable, though, to
CFCs and
halons being released into the atmosphere.
Inter
national efforts to reduce the use of these
damaging chemicals appear to be having a positive effect
on their atmospheric abundance.
The smaller size of the
ozone hole this year, however, is attributed mostly to
warmer than normal air in the surrounding
stratosphere.
The
above picture of the ozone hole was taken on
September 24 by
TOMS on board the orbiting
Earth Probe satellite.
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.
