Arctic Ozone up this spring

SIKU CIRCUMPOLAR NEWS SERVICE

The winter of 2004-2005 saw the second highest chemical ozone destruction ever observed over the Arctic.

Polar ozone is destroyed when chlorine, cold temperatures, and sunlight mix in the atmosphere eight to 50 kilometres above the Earth’s surface. Ozone shields the earth from ultraviolet light, the high-energy light that causes sunburns and skin cancers, so low ozone levels could threaten the health of humans, fish and animals.

The Microwave Limb Sounder, an instrument on the Aura satellite, measured 50 per cent ozone loss, the second-highest level ever observed behind the 60 per cent loss measured in 1999-2000.