Measurements from the European Union's Earth observation program, Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite, revealed a substantial increase in the size of the annual ozone hole over Antarctica, with satellite data from September 16 revealing it had expanded to approximately 26 million square kilometers, roughly three times the size of Brazil.
Growing Ozone Hole Over Antarctic
The ozone hole's size is influenced by the strength of the wind band encircling Antarctica, driven by Earth's rotation and temperature variations between polar and moderate latitudes.
Annually, an Antarctic ozone hole forms due to ozone-depleting substances and regional conditions, peaking between mid-September and mid-October as temperatures rise, weakening the polar vortex. However, this year's hole expanded rapidly from mid-August, becoming one of the largest on record as per Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite data.
Since Copernicus Sentinel-5P launced in 2017, it has monitored the atmosphere using its Tropomi imaging spectrometer, providing highly accurate total ozone measurements processed by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB).
The data is rapidly integrated into the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) operated by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF).
CAMS noted the early and rapid expansion of the 2023 ozone hole, reaching over 26 million square kilometers on September 16, making it one of the largest on record.
Typically, ozone levels recover by mid-December as stratospheric temperatures rise, slowing ozone depletion and weakening the polar vortex. The United Nations Environment Programme predicted the ozone layer's recovery within decades in a January report.
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The 2022 Tonga Volcanic Eruption Effect to the Antarctic Ozone Hole
Antje Inness, a senior scientist at the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), noted that their ozone monitoring service indicated an early and rapid expansion of the 2023 ozone hole since mid-August.
She suggested that the Tonga underwater eruption in January 2022 might have played a role in this development. The eruption injected significant water vapor into the stratosphere, reaching the southern polar regions after the 2022 ozone hole had already concluded.
This influx of water vapor could have increased the formation of polar stratospheric clouds, where chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) react and accelerate ozone depletion. Additionally, water vapor presence may have contributed to cooling the Antarctic stratosphere, further promoting polar stratospheric cloud formation and strengthening the polar vortex.
While this theory suggests a potential link between the eruption and the ozone hole, scientists acknowledge that ongoing research is needed to determine the exact impact. Historical precedent exists, as the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo released substantial sulfur dioxide, subsequently intensifying ozone layer depletion.
The depletion process hinges on extremely low temperatures, as a specific type of cloud called polar stratospheric clouds forms only at temperatures as low as -78°C (-108°F). These frigid clouds contain ice crystals that activate inert chemicals, leading to ozone damage.
These chemicals primarily involve chlorine and bromine compounds, which become chemically active within the frigid vortex over the South Pole. Their proliferation occurred during the late 20th century when halocarbons like CFCs and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) were commonly used as coolants in refrigerators and aerosol products.
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