Winters, volcanic eruptions to burst Arctic ozone layer

Researchers say a seasonal “ozone hole” could likely form over the North Pole within 30 years.

This hole could allow harmful rays from the sun to affect populated regions in the circumpolar world.

“If a period of high volcanic activity coincides with a series of cold Arctic winters, then a springtime Arctic ozone hole may reappear for a number of consecutive years, resembling the pattern seen in the Antarctic every spring since the 1980s,” said NASA scientist Azadeh Tabazadeh.

The presence of the gas, ozone, in the upper atmosphere protects humans and animals from harmful ultra-violet radiation from the sun.