Arctic ozone levels predicted to decrease

Abstract

Warmer than normal temperatures allowed the northern polar regions to escape severe ozone depletion this past winter. Nevertheless, scientists who participated in a National Aeronautics & Space Administration research study remain concerned that major ozone losses will occur over the Arctic within the next decade. Furthermore, the scientists have definitively linked a previously reported subtle but serious decrease in ozone levels over northern mid-latitudes to chlorine and bromine in the stratosphere. This ozone destruction—though not so dramatic as that of the Antarctic ozone hole—is especially significant because it is occurring throughout the year over densely populated areas. The researchers conclude such depletion of Earth's ozone shield is likely to worsen over the next 10 years, because halogen concentrations in the stratosphere will continue to increase during the 1990s despite current regulations controlling the production of man-made sources of chlorine and bromine. The NASA-sponsored second Ai...