Antarctica's Ozone hole grows to record size, worrying experts
Satellite reveal alarming data – the ozone hole over Antarctica is expanding rapidly. This year, it has reached unprecedented dimensions, currently measuring three times the area of Brazil.
On September 16, 2023, a snapshot captured by the European Space Agency unveiled the vast extent of this «ozone-depleting area,» spanning an astonishing 26 million square kilometers.
The size of the ozone hole experiences fluctuation throughout the year, with its peak expansion occurring between August and October. During mid-September and mid-October, the hole is at its largest.
This phenomenon is primarily driven by the notable rise in temperatures in the southern hemisphere, leading to ozone depletion. This period coincides with the weakening and eventual breakdown of the polar vortex, which only returns to its normal state in December.
The Copernicus Sentinel 5P satellite, launched in October 2017, marks a significant milestone as the first satellite specifically designed for monitoring our atmosphere.
Equipped with an advanced imaging spectrometer known as Tropomi, it has the unique ability to detect the distinct «fingerprints» of various atmospheric gases across the electromagnetic spectrum. This environmental detective, Tropomi, offers precise insights into our planet's atmosphere, providing a valuable resource for improving air quality and environmental conditions monitoring.
Diego Loyola, a senior scientist at Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), underscores the significance of Sentinel-5P's ozone data accuracy, which plays a vital role in closely monitoring changes in the ozone layer.
