Scientists have confirmed the closure of the largest hole (in size and duration) in the ozone layer In the Arctic.
As reported by European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF for its acronym in English), the aforementioned hole that had been classified as “unprecedented” due to its immense size and long duration now it’s closed.
During the past month of March, scientists observed signs of the formation of a strange hole, attributing the phenomenon to the low temperatures of the north pole. However, in early April the European Space Agency (ESA) reported that ozone levels were falling rapidly, causing unexpected and extraordinary growth in the ozone layer that protects Earth from most of the Sun’s ultraviolet radiation.
Recently, after a team of researchers from the European Copernicus Earth Observation and Monitoring Program make observations, they announced that the hole had closed, fulfilling the forecast given by Loyola, researcher of the German Aerospace Center, who said the hole was expected to close in mid-April.
The unprecedented 2020 northern hemisphere #OzoneHole you’ve come to an end. The #PolarVortex split, allowing #ozone-rich air into the Arctic, closely matching last week’s forecast from the #CopernicusAtmosphere Monitoring Service.
More on the NH Ozone hole➡️https://t.co/Nf6AfjaYRi pic.twitter.com/qVPu70ycn4
– Copernicus ECMWF (@CopernicusECMWF) April 23, 2020
This surprise event not related with the pollution reduction as a consequence of the quarantine in many countries of the world to prevent the spread of COVID-19, according to Euronews.
The researchers suggest that the closure of the hole is due to a heat wave in the polar vortex, causing the high-altitude currents that normally bring cold air to the polar regions to divide, resulting in temperatures in the Arctic that are up to 20 ° C above normal for this time of year.
Source: Euronews
