The ozone hole is widening: it is now larger than Antarctica

The ozone hole has currently reached an area larger than Antarctica.

This was revealed by the observations of the Sentinel 5P satellite, one of the Earth sentinels of the Copernicus program managed by the European Commission and the European Space Agency (ESA). The data, released on the occasion of the International Day for Observation of the Ozone Layer, was collected as part of the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (Cams) of the European Center for Medium Range Meteorological Forecasts.

Every year, the scientists explain, the ozone hole forms during the austral spring, between August and October, and reaches its maximum between mid-September and mid-October. But this year the size is worrying: after a rather normal initial condition, it increased significantly last week and is now 75% larger than the measurements found at this same time of year since 1979.

"Although similar to that of 2020, this year the ozone hole has turned into one of the longest ever recorded," observes Vincent-Henri Peuch, director of the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service. For Antje Inness, of the European Center for Medium Range Meteorological Forecasts, "the monitoring of the ozone hole at the South Pole must be interpreted with caution, since the size, duration and concentrations are influenced by local winds. However, we expect it to be. close by 2050 ".

(Unioneonline / D)