[Thread] The 2019 Antarctic Ozone Hole was the smallest on record since it was first detected about 4 decades ago. Multiple factors led to this, and make what happened this year particularly fascinating. 1/ washingtonpost.com/weather/2019/1…
Ozone destruction is maximized when the lower stratosphere is especially cold and clouds are relatively abundant and long-lasting. But this year, the lower stratosphere in Sept. was almost 30 F above average. 2/
A major sudden stratospheric warming event helped to disrupt the polar vortex over the Antarctic, leading to the unusually warm lower stratosphere. Therefore, less ozone destruction (thankfully). 3/
But we still have a long way to go before the ozone layer completely recovers.
At current rates, NASA/NOAA expect the ozone hole to disappear entirely by 2070. And that's IF we have full compliance with the Montreal Protocol...
At current rates, NASA/NOAA expect the ozone hole to disappear entirely by 2070. And that's IF we have full compliance with the Montreal Protocol...
