Why Is The Ozone Layer Perforating Over Antarctica?

Although the sun offers us life, it does not do it alone. The Sun, loved by everyone with its warmth and energy, can actually offer us life when restrained by the Earth. If our Earth and its atmosphere had not been able to provide protection against the sun’s rays, serious troubles would have awaited us. part of the stratosphere in our Earth’s atmosphere Ozon layer, It protects almost all life on Earth, including us, from the Sun’s dangerous ultraviolet rays.

While it’s comforting to have the ozone layer on our heads, a hole is actually drilled in the ozone layer every year. Man-made and in 1987 Montreal Protocol measures have been taken, thanks to hole in the ozone layer, millions of square kilometers are drilled during a certain period of the year. This hole, which is about the size of 30 Turkey, is formed on Antarctica every year. Now that we have learned this information, we can ask ourselves the following question: “Why does the ozone hole form over Antarctica and not in the North Pole or Europe?“Today we will give you the answer to this exact question.

Before we move on to our main question: Why is the ozone layer being depleted?

The hole in the ozone layer can actually be caused by natural processes, but it is because the hole is so big. We are the people responsible. used by humans chlorine and bromine substances By reacting with ozone molecules, they actually decompose the molecules that protect us. This creates a thinning of the ozone layer, thus creating a hole.

These elements, emanating from the Northern Hemisphere, where the human population is concentrated, have an extremely stable structure. In addition to being in gas form, they can easily reach the stratosphere layer because they can maintain their structure even in long and different conditions. They can also travel long distances from here. Of course, during these journeys, elements such as chlorine and bromine AntarcticaWe see it reaching .

Why is the ozone layer being depleted over Antarctica and not in Europe or elsewhere?

The reason why the ozone layer forms a hole on Antarctica is because of the polar regions. stratospheric clouds a favorable environment for chemical reactions due to its provision. Elements such as chlorine and bromine, which start to react with ozone molecules, cause solid and liquid particles to form in stratospheric clouds. Of course, this is not a stand-alone answer. Because the conditions in Antarctica are similar to the North Pole, but there is no such thing here. The reason here is that the required temperature for stratospheric clouds to form is not reached.

For stratospheric clouds to form, the air temperature must drop below -78 degrees Celsius. Daily temperatures in Antarctica can drop to -90 degrees Celsius. This is sufficient temperature for clouds to form. In the North Pole, this decrease generally stays at -80 degrees Celsius. In the North Pole, which cannot keep this decline continuously, the temperatures of -78 degrees Celsius, which are necessary for the formation of stratospheric clouds, cannot be seen most of the time. In this way, ozone layer holes are very small in the north pole region. Antarctica especially in winter and spring periods. It can go below -78 degrees Celsius.

What precautions do we take against the depletion of the ozone layer?

Elements such as chlorine and bromine, which damage ozone molecules, can be used in some chemical compounds used by humans. Especially Ozone killer elements used extensively in products such as deodorants and refrigerators until 1987.It was somewhat reined in by the international agreement that came into force in 1987. Agreeing to reduce the use of elements such as chlorine and bromine, 197 countries also made one of the most successful environmental protection agreements in the world.

Under the Montreal Protocol, there is a timetable for countries to phase out 96 ozone-depleting chemicals. According to this developed countries by 2036 use of these chemicals while reducing by 86 percent Developing countries will reduce the chemicals that cause the ozone hole by 80 percent by 2045. This reduction, which is still ongoing, continues resolutely. We can say that the ozone hole, which was predicted to go out of control in the 1970s, is kept under control today. According to the researches, decisive progress is required until 2060 in order to reach the 1980 levels.

Today we explained to you why the hole in the ozone layer is over Antarctica. If you want more of our content like this, you can write to us in the comments section.

Sources: NASA, AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC PROGRAM, CSI, Earth, TUBITAK