Why is there a localized hole in the ozone layer over the south pole?
Ozone depletion has long been blamed on CFC gases, which have chlorine, which is an ozone-depletion substance. The forces of wind are such that the gases of the stratosphere are mixed together more or less uniformly, which is often considered counterintuitive since CFCs are heavier than air. Regardless, you end up with uniform spread of this stuff through the stratosphere. Why is the ozone hole over Antarctica? Consider this quote from the link below: Briefly, the unusual physics and chemistry of the Antarctic stratosphere allows the inactive chlorine “reservoir” compounds to be converted into ozone- destroying chlorine radicals. While there is no more chlorine over Antarctica than anywhere else, in the antarctic spring most of the chlorine is in a form that can destroy ozone. The link goes on to describe the six steps involved in making the Antarctic stratosphere the “perfect” reaction vessel for ozone depletion, the sum of which results in the ozone hole there instead of elsewhere. B
Ozone depletion has long been blamed on CFC gases, which have chlorine, which is an ozone-depletion substance. The forces of wind are such that the gases of the stratosphere are mixed together more or less uniformly, which is often considered counterintuitive since CFCs are heavier than air. Regardless, you end up with uniform spread of this stuff through the stratosphere. Why is the ozone hole over Antarctica? Consider this quote from the link below: Briefly, the unusual physics and chemistry of the Antarctic stratosphere allows the inactive chlorine “reservoir” compounds to be converted into ozone- destroying chlorine radicals. While there is no more chlorine over Antarctica than anywhere else, in the antarctic spring most of the chlorine is in a form that can destroy ozone. The link goes on to describe the six steps involved in making the Antarctic stratosphere the “perfect” reaction vessel for ozone depletion, the sum of which results in the ozone hole there instead of elsewhere. B
