We live in a world where the continuous increase in temperatures is causing many problems within the globe, such as thaw and the consequent sea level rise, droughts increasingly intense, more devastating cyclones. However, we often forget the ozone layerThis layer, which extends from approximately 15 km to 50 km above sea level, is very important for maintaining health. Now, a study has also revealed that a 3 degree warming could seriously threaten it .
The disappearance of the ozone layer or even its reduction could increase the number of cancer cases. This, which at first might seem distant, might not be so far. The increase in temperatures is a real fact all over the planet: we have been more than 300 consecutive months in which values are registered above the usual.
With the contamination, deforestation, as well as with the use of toxic products For the environment, humans are endangering themselves and all other forms of life on this planet. global warming It is one of the most worrying issues today, marking a critical point in the health of our ozone layer.
According to the study, which has been published in the journal Nature Communications, it is very important that global measures are taken to regulate methane production, which is a serious environmental problem in Europe and is related to the global warming.
The study's authors, including Audrey Fortems-Cheiney of the French Institut Pierre Simon Laplace, used a chemical transport model to examine what would happen to ozone if temperatures were reached temperatures 2 or 3 degrees higher in different scenarios with different mitigating factors. This research shows the direct connection between the global warming and the future of the ozone layer.
Thus, they were able to observe that in a scenario without mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, with a warming of 3ºC between 2040 and 2069, ozone levels were 8% higher . If implemented, this would surpass the reductions achieved with the implementation of ozone emission regulations; or, to put it another way: the hole in the ozone layer, located about 15 km from Antarctica, could become larger, highlighting the need for immediate action to mitigate the global warming.
The ozone layer plays a fundamental role in protecting life on Earth. It acts as a shield that absorbs most of the rays ultraviolet (UV) from the sun, which are harmful to many living organisms. However, a additional global warming could have adverse effects on the layer, affecting its ability to filter these harmful rays and thus intensifying health risks.
A study by the University of Toronto (Canada), published in the journal Nature Geoscience, reveals that Global warming affects the ozone flow between the stratosphere and the troposphereAccording to the article, this flow will increase by 23% until 2095, transporting O3 from the polar stratosphere to the troposphere, which could accentuate the consequences of the climate change.
This increase may lead to the dissipation of stratospheric ozone, which would be deposited in the troposphere, causing the destruction of the layer and increasing air pollution. "Global warming appears to be intensifying this flow," confirms Emilio Cuevas, director of the Izaña Atmospheric Research Center.
The disposition of the O3 in the atmosphere is directly related to the ultraviolet radiation reaching Earth. According to the research, by 2100, the level of radiation reaching the planet's surface will decrease by 9% in the Northern Hemisphere and increase by 4% in the tropics and more than 20% in the Southern Hemisphere. This will have consequences for air quality and for human and ecosystem health, according to the study's authors, and reinforces the urgency of addressing the issue. global warming.
The formation of the ozone layer is key to understanding how it can be affected by global warming.
A new enemy is looming on the horizon. A recent article published in the journal Science reveals the existence of another danger to the ozone layer. Research suggests that nitrous oxide (N2O), better known as the laughing gas, also acts as an O destroyer3. Researchers at the US Atmospheric Administration say that this gas, not regulated by the Montreal Protocol, will be the main cause of the destruction of the layer during the 21st century if current practices continue, making the global warming. Therefore, the authors suggest that N2That is, the next to appear on the list of the international agreement.
In any case, the efforts made by the signatory countries of the Protocol have not been in vain. Experts agree that the ozone layer begins to regenerate and the pollutants present in the atmosphere have stabilized. It will still take several decades until these elements are neutralized, since a single chlorine molecule It is capable of destroying about 100.000 O molecules3.
The latest report from the International Meteorological Organization estimates that the ozone layer will be replenished around 2050, although it will take another 15 years to fully regenerate the Antarctic zone. Meanwhile, scientists reaffirm the great work done by the signatory countries of the international agreement. "The Montreal Protocol has been completely effective and has prevented a global environmental disaster," Cuevas concludes.
El World Ozone Day It is a reminder of the importance of protecting this fragile ozone layer that shields us from ultraviolet radiation. Celebrated every September 16, this day commemorates the signing of the Montreal Protocol in 1987 and seeks to raise awareness of the need to continue efforts to protect the ozone layer and address the emerging challenges of climate change, especially in the context of the melting of the poles.
Ozone layer research continues to advance, and it is crucial to maintain the international commitment to address all potential threats to this vital resource. The constant vigilance and compliance with international agreements are essential to ensure that the ozone layer can recover and continue to protect life on Earth.
It is also a consequence of rising temperatures and is strongly related to the health of the ozone layer.
The interaction between the climate change and the ozone layer is complex and multifaceted. As global warming continues to alter weather and atmospheric patterns, new research is needed to better understand how these changes may affect the ozone layer and the overall health of the planet, leading to the need to increasingly study the volcanoes in Antarctica.
The actions single, as well as global efforts, are essential to protect not only the ozone layer, but also to mitigate climate change and protect ecosystems from the dangers posed by pollution and unsustainable resource use.
It is imperative that all countries work together to strengthen policies regulating substances that deplete the ozone layer and contribute to global warming, ensuring a healthier and more sustainable future for our planet.
Toward a sustainable future, the Montreal Protocol serves as a model for international cooperation that can guide effective action against climate change. However, the threat of nitrous oxide and other substances that negatively impact the ozone layer highlights the need to maintain a proactive and flexible approach.
Collaboration in research and policy, along with education and public awareness, are key factors that can facilitate positive changes and restore the ozone layer in a timely manner. The health of the planet depends on decisive and coordinated global action.
Goodnight,
Maybe I am wrong, but I think the study you link refers to tropospheric ozone, not the ozone (stratospheric) layer and does not say that it will decrease, but increase, which is bad since it is toxic. In fact, in a paragraph of this article it says that "ozone levels will increase by 8%, which could enlarge the hole over Antarctica." If ozone levels rise, why is the hole rising?
I insist, perhaps I am making a mistake, in which case forgive my ignorance. Regards.