Largest Ozone Hole Ever Recorded over the North Pole Has Now ‘Healed Itself’ and Closed

Largest Ozone Hole Ever Recorded over the North Pole: In the last days of March, scientists at the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service observed a sizeable empty space over the Arctic region.

Till now, they did not recognize such a big cleft in the atmosphere. Soon it turned into a big hole. They had not yet encountered such a massive hole in the northern hemisphere. Its size was equal to that of Greenland, and it spread the surface of the polar icecap.

On 23 April, there was a piece of good news. CAMS tweeted that this year, ie, in March of 2020, the single hole in Ozonepat in the Northern Hemisphere has closed.

Largest Ozone Hole Ever Recorded over the North Pole Has Now ‘Healed Itself’ and Closed

How? is Ozone so important?

Actually, the ozone layer provides the Earth with the necessary protection from the sun’s harmful rays. Most of the Earth’s Ozone is present in the upper stratosphere of its atmosphere.

The ozone layer at an altitude of 10-40 km from the ground is accommodating in protecting the Earth from ultraviolet radiation.

According to CAMS, however, small holes have been found in the ozone layer above the atmosphere of the Arctic region.  But this was the first time that such a big hole was visible in the ozone layer, and it became a matter of concern.

How did the hole appear and then disappear?

CAMS stated that the ever-increasing hole was the result of unusual weather over the attraction.  When strong winds are trapped in the freezing winds above the icy peaks for several consecutive days, they form a ‘polar vortex’ in the terminology of scientists.

This intense pressure revolves around itself. This creates so much power that it pierces the Ozone of the stratosphere. 

Although this hole has now closed, but scientists say that if the weather is favorable, it can open again. CAMS said in a tweet that this giant hole in the ozone layer above the Arctic has no connection with the lockdown caused by a coronavirus. 

This was due to the compelling and extraordinary air and the long-lived polar vortex. It was said in the tweet that this big hole in the ozone layer is a symptom of a big problem like a significant fall in the Ozone.  It was closed just because of the annual cycle. It is not a permanent cure. But hope remains. The ozone layer is improving but slowly.

Hole over Antarctica is still intact

Holes in the Ozone above the North Pole are a rare occurrence, but above Antarctica over the past 35 years, every year, a larger aperture is created again and again. 

Although its size keeps on decreasing every year, but in the near future, it does not seem to stop. The use of chlorofluorocarbons was discontinued in 1996. Since then, it has shown some improvement. 

Chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons are used to make aerosol sprays, foams, solvents, and refrigerants. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says that the ozone hole over Antarctica has been reduced by one to three percent since 2000.