Why is ozone depletion greater in Antarctica compared to the Arctic?

Why is ozone depletion greater in Antarctica compared to the Arctic?

The Antarctic is much colder than the rest of the planet and experiences consistent strong winds. The Antarctic ozone hole develops in August and dissipates in late November when warmer weather and ozone rich air from outside the polar vortex disrupts the chemical reactions causing ozone depletion.

Why is there less ozone depletion over the Arctic?

The Arctic winter stratosphere is generally warmer than its Antarctic counterpart (see Figure Q10-1). Higher temperatures reduce polar strat- ospheric cloud (PSC) formation, which slows the conver- sion of reactive chlorine gases to form ClO and, as a con- sequence, reduces the amount of ozone depletion (see Q10).

Why is ozone depletion more in Antarctica than Arctic Quora?

Antarctica is colder than the Arctic circle because the ratio of land to water is higher. Therefore ozone depletion over the South Pole is greater than ozone depletion over the North Pole.

Why is the ozone hole in Antarctica Upsc?

It was caused by the chemical reactions on polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) in the cold Antarctic stratosphere caused a massive. Though localized and seasonal, an increase in the amount of chlorine present in active, ozone-destroying forms.

What caused the ozone hole over the Arctic?

The unusually large hole that opened up in the ozone layer over the Arctic last year seems to have been triggered by record-breaking winter temperatures in the North Pacific ocean, according to new analysis.

Why is there no ozone hole in the Northern Hemisphere?

While a large ozone hole opens every autumn over the South Pole, the conditions that allow these holes to form are much rarer in the Northern Hemisphere, the ESA researchers said. The Arctic ozone hole opened this year only because the cold air was concentrated in the area for much longer than is typical.

Why does the ozone hole form mostly over Antarctica and not so much over the Arctic or equator?

The Antarctic ozone hole forms during the Southern Hemisphere’s late winter as the returning Sun’s rays start ozone-depleting reactions. Cold winter temperatures persisting into the spring enable the ozone depletion process, which is why the “hole” forms over Antarctica.

Why is ozone hole over Antarctica Quora?

There’s an ozone hole over Antarctica because the concerned chemical reaction takes place most effectively over Antarctica. Chlorofluorocarbons—organic compounds made of chlorine, fluorine and carbon—are substances that deplete the ozone layer.

Is there a hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica?

The 2021 ozone hole over Antarctica is among the 25% largest in recorded history. A giant ozone hole has opened up over Antarctica this year. Already larger than the entire ice-covered continent, the ozone hole has surpassed the size of 75% of ozone holes measured since 1979 and is still growing.

Why ozone depletion is more in Southern Hemisphere?

The losses in the Southern Hemisphere are greater than those in the Northern Hemisphere because of the Antarctic ozone hole. Long-term changes in the tropics are much smaller because reactive halogen gases are less abun- dant in the tropical lower stratosphere.