Ozone depletion over North Pole produces weather anomalies
Image Credit:cleantechnica
Although the ozone hole over Antarctica is well known, few people are aware that the protective ozone in the stratosphere periodically breaks down over the Arctic, depleting the ozone layer there.
Prior to that, it occurred in the spring of 2011 and most recently in the months of spring 2020.
Simulations reveal correlation
The researchers performed simulations that included ozone depletion in two separate climate models in order to find potential causal relationships.
Due in part to the need for significantly more processing capacity, most climate models solely take into account physical variables and ignore changes in stratospheric ozone concentrations.
The mechanism explained
As currently understood by academics, the phenomenon starts with stratospheric ozone loss.
The Arctic must have extremely low temperatures in order for ozone to be destroyed there
Friedel notes that ozone degradation only happens when it is cold enough and the polar vortex is strong in the stratosphere, between 30 and 50 kilometres above the surface.
Greater accuracy possible for long-term forecasts
Future seasonal weather and climate projections may be more accurate thanks to the latest results in climatology
Better heat and temperature predictions are made as a result, "which is vital for agriculture," according to Chiodo.