The Arctic ozone layer response to climate change
[ added 6 May, 2010 ]
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The depletion of the Arctic ozone layer will continue to be of concern in the coming decades due to the high concentration of ozone-depleting substances in the atmosphere and the variability of Arctic meteorological conditions. The way that the Arctic Ozone Layer evolves will also depend on the control of greenhouse gases. According to Environment Canada, it makes scientific sense to address climate and ozone layer issues through a comprehensive and integrated approach.
Eliminating ozone-depleting substances from the atmosphere will take between 50 to 100 years, since ozone-depleting substances break down and are removed only very slowly from the atmosphere. Moreover, there is uncertainty about the severity of the impact of climatic changes caused by increasing accumulations in the atmosphere of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitric oxides and halocarbons. ‘The Arctic Ozone Layer -How the Arctic Ozone Layer is Responding to Ozone-Depleting Chemicals and Climate Change’ report, issued by Environment Canada, goes into the details of the different factors affecting the Arctic ozone layer, as well as the linkages between climate change and the ozone layer.
The Linkages between Climate Change and the Ozone Layer
Although ozone depletion and climate change involve different atmospheric processes from one another and are the subject of different international negotiations and treaties they equally affect the atmosphere and hence there are important linkages between them.
Some linkages are straightforward. For example, halocarbons that cause ozone depletion are also a greenhouse gas that contributes to warming in the lower atmosphere. Other linkages are not as straightforward as there is a complex array of physical and chemical interactions and feedbacks that characterise atmospheric behaviour.
Hence it makes scientific sense to address ozone depletion and climate change through a comprehensive and integrated approach.
You can view the report by clicking here.
