news release - ozone layer

8/2/2019 News Release - Ozone Layer

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2008-09-16 10:09:59

New t heory pred ic ts the la rgest ozone ho le over Antarc t ica w i l l occur

th i s mon th

WATERLOO, Ont. (Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008) -- A University of Waterloo

scientist says that cosmic rays are a key cause for expanding the hole in the

ozone layer over the South Pole -- and predicts the largest ozone hole will occur

in one or two weeks.

Qing-Bin Lu, a professor of physics and astronomy who studies ozone depletion,

said that it was generally accepted for more than two decades that the Earth's

ozone layer is depleted by chlorine atoms produced by sunlight-induced

destruction of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the atmosphere. But more and more

evidence now points to a new theory that the cosmic rays (energy particles

that originate in space) play a major role.

The ozone layer is a layer in Earth's atmosphere that contains high

concentrations of ozone. It absorbs almost all of the sun's high-frequency

ultraviolet light, which is potentially damaging to life on Earth and causes

diseases such as skin cancer and cataracts. The Antarctic ozone hole can belarger than the size of North America.

Lu said that data from several sources, including NASA satellites, show a strong

correlation between cosmic ray intensity and ozone depletion. Lab

measurements demonstrate a mechanism by which cosmic rays cause drastic

reactions of ozone-depleting chlorine inside polar clouds.

Satellite data in the period of 1980-2007, covering two full 11-year solar cycles,

demonstrate the significant correlation between cosmic rays and ozone

depletion.

"This finding, combined with laboratory measurements, provides strong evidence

of the role of cosmic-ray driven reactions in causing the ozone hole and resolves

the mystery why a large discrepancy between the sunlight-related

photochemical model and the observed ozone depletion exists," Lu said.

For example, the most recent scientific assessments of ozone depletion by theWorld Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment

Programme, which use photochemical models, predict ozone will increase by one

to 2.5 per cent between 2000 and 2020 and Antarctic springtime ozone is

projected to increase by five to 10 per cent between 2000 and 2020.

In sharp contrast, Lu said his study predicts the severest ozone loss - - resulting

in the largest ozone hole - - will occur over the South Pole this month. The study

also predicts another large hole will probably occur around 2019.

Resources

Contacts:

Editors: A NASA image of 

the ozone hole is available

from

 jmorris@uwaterloo.ca 

Qing-Bin Lu, professor of 

physics and astronomy,

519-888-4567 ext.

33503 or

qblu@uwaterloo.ca 

John Morris, UW media

relations, 519-888-4435 or

 jmorris@uwaterloo.ca 

UW news release no. 62

2008-09-16 10:09:59

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