The ozone layer is crying out for help again!

The ozone hole, resembling a purple ulcer in the upper atmosphere of the Southern Hemisphere. (Source: Vox.com)

The ozone layer acts as a shield, protecting Earth from ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, thereby safeguarding life on the planet's surface.

A new study published in the journal Nature on March 8th shows that American researchers have identified a previously unknown chemical reaction in wildfire smoke that has the potential to severely damage that protective shield.

The hole widened by another 10%.

In Australia, from late 2019 to early 2020, intense heat and drought caused wildfires dubbed the "Black Summer," burning vast eucalyptus forests. Smoke and ash blanketed Sydney and many other cities for months.

According to researchers, smoke from the devastating Australian bushfires has triggered chemical reactions that have widened the ozone hole by 10%. This raises concerns that the increasing frequency of bushfires could slow the recovery of Earth's atmospheric protection against deadly UV rays.

The research team concluded that more than 1 million tons of smoke from wildfires being "pumped" into the atmosphere has made the ozone hole last longer.

Professor Susan Solomon of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the lead researcher, said that chemical reactions caused by the smoke have broken the edges of the ozone hole above Antarctica, causing it to expand by more than 2 million square kilometers, equivalent to 10% of its previous size.

The ozone hole is caused by environmental pollution, which releases man-made chemicals into the Earth's atmosphere. These chemicals are known as chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs for short.

In recent decades, a global agreement to limit the use of CFCs has helped the ozone layer heal itself.

The Montreal Protocol of 1987, ratified by 195 countries, significantly reduced CFC emissions into the atmosphere, although these particles persist for decades.

United Nations studies predict that the ozone layer above the Southern Hemisphere will fully recover by 2060.

However, Professor Solomon, who first discovered the chemicals causing the ozone hole in Antarctica in the 1980s, expressed concern that the impact of climate change could slow this recovery process.

"We think that wildfires will become more frequent and intense, and this could slow down the ozone layer's self-healing process," Solomon said.

Scientists have long linked the formation of the ozone hole to extremely cold weather. This is because when clouds are at very low temperatures, they create a favorable environment for CFCs to react, transforming into chlorine, which is even more harmful to the ozone layer than the CFCs themselves.

Professor Solomon likened the devastating Australian fires to a "shock" to the ozone layer. According to her, new research shows that smoke particles released into the atmosphere trigger a series of chemical reactions that produce chlorine monoxide, damaging the ozone layer. Notably, this reaction can occur without extremely cold temperatures.

By triggering this response, the fires likely contributed to a 3%–5% reduction in total ozone levels over the Southern Hemisphere, across Australia, New Zealand, parts of Africa, and South America.

A study published by British scientists in August 2022 also confirmed that the accumulation of smoke particles from large-scale wildfires may have caused changes in atmospheric temperature, prolonging the existence of the ozone hole above Antarctica.

Efforts to find solutions

To help prevent ozone depletion, scientists believe that continued efforts are needed to implement policies such as phasing out the use of freon-based chemicals (CFCs); researching the use of clean energy sources; and actively using green, environmentally friendly, and safe products. In addition, it is necessary to address pollution locally within each industrial zone, factory, and production process to minimize the release of harmful gases and dust into the atmosphere.

In addition, one of the effective measures is to apply a tax policy on waste, especially on hazardous substances that pollute the environment.

At the same time, we need to promote education , advocacy, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises to improve their technology in order to eliminate and prevent activities that negatively impact the ozone layer. Protecting the environment – ​​protecting the ozone layer – is protecting their own lives.

Vietnam was one of the first countries to join the Vienna Convention on the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, since January 1994. As a member of the Montreal Protocol, Vietnam is obligated to control and eliminate ozone-depleting substances according to the schedule stipulated in the protocol.

As a developing country heavily impacted by climate change, Vietnam has demonstrated significant national efforts in protecting the ozone layer and contributing to mitigating the effects of climate change. Vietnam has implemented a plan to manage the elimination of CFCs by supporting businesses in technological transition (phase one from 2012-2017 and phase two from 2018-2023).

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment also chaired and coordinated with ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and government agencies to develop and submit to the Prime Minister for promulgation the National Plan on the management and elimination of ozone-depleting substances and greenhouse gases under control before December 31, 2023.

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Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tang-ozone-lai-keu-cuu-220319.html