Arctic Ozone Wiped Out By Solar Storms (2004)

[Mal_Adjusted]

Greets

Arctic ozone wiped out by solar storms

* 12 March 2005
* From New Scientist Print Edition.

GIGANTIC solar storms destroyed nearly 60 per cent of the ozone above the Arctic during the spring of 2004.

The ozone, which shields us from harmful ultraviolet radiation, lies mostly in the lower and mid-stratosphere. Man-made chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) have been mainly responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer. Now, Cora Randall of the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado at Boulder and her colleagues have used data collected from seven satellites to show that a record barrage of charged particles from the sun in October and November 2003 also destroyed large amounts of ozone. "We have never seen ozone close to this level in the northern hemisphere," says Randall.

It started when Earth's magnetic field funnelled some of the electrons from the solar storm into the upper atmosphere over the poles. The electrons ionised nitrogen molecules in that region, and the ions then combined with oxygen to form nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2) - levels of which rose dramatically towards the end of 2003. These molecules were sucked down into the stratosphere by polar vortex winds, where each one ripped apart hundreds of ozone molecules, just as CFCs do. Ozone levels remained low into July 2004 (Geophysical Research Letters, vol 32, p L05802).
From issue 2490 of New Scientist magazine, 12 March 2005, page 17

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg18524906.300

mal

 

[sunspot8]

I'm surprised this hasn't received more media attention. But then I suppose it doenst fit in with the consenus that ALL ozone depletion is manmade anymore.

 

[sunsplash1]

No mention of similar effects in the antartic region, maybe 'they' should go 'n have a look?

surely similar types of processes go on...

 

[rynner2]

No mention of similar effects in the antartic region, maybe 'they' should go 'n have a look?

surely similar types of processes go on...

GIGANTIC solar storms destroyed nearly 60 per cent of the ozone above the Arctic during the spring of 2004.

The Arctic spring would have been the Antarctic autumn, so both regions should have had similar exposure to solar effects, at the equinox, anyhow. But as the year progressed, the north pole would turn more towards the sun, while the south pole moved into darkness...

Perhaps it was a follow-on from

a record barrage of charged particles from the sun in October and November 2003 also destroyed large amounts of ozone.

 

[Anome]

I can assure you that "they" are keeping careful track of ozone at both poles, and that the models showing man-made effects take into account any natural phenomena that might also have an influence.

It has been well known for some time that there are seasonal changes to the ozone levels at the poles. The problem we see now is that when something like the Aurora effect described above, it doesn't bounce back as fast as it used to, mainly because it also has to deal with Chlorine in the upper atmosphere from CFCs and other artificial sources.