An extended area of depleted ozone formed over the North Pole that is currently thinning rapidly, will reach Scandinavia and Eastern Europe by the end of this month (March 30 - 31).
The ozone layer that is thinning with a very high speed has been detected for the first time by an international network that includes 30 ground stations that measure ozone, mounted in arctic and sub-arctic regions, coordinated by Alfred Wegener, scientist at the Institute for Polar and Marine Research, reports EurActiv.com.
Latest forecasts, based on information provided by the European centre for medium-term weather forecasts show that the thin ozone layer will reach both Scandinavia and Eastern Europe around March 30 - 31.
"The ozone loss is still going on at high rates and we don't see an end to that for at least 10-14 days," Markus Rex, an atmospheric scientist at the Alfred Wegener Institute, told EurActiv. He also added that it was "absolutely possible" that the thinning parts of the ozone layer could turn into an "ozone hole".
Polar station measurements showed that around half of the ozone had been destroyed at some latitudes, and the Arctic just suffered a record loss of ozone, which protects earth from ultra-violet (UV) radiation.
The research team said the low ozone area will be above Eastern Russia by the end of March and will continue moving.
"People should be vigilant but they shouldn't be worried," Gier Braathen, a senior scientific officer at the World Meteorological Organisation, told EurActiv. "You can protect yourself by keeping informed, putting on a wide-brimmed hat and sun screen, and not spending too many hours outdoors."
Is there any connection between the problems at the nuclear reactors in Japan and the ozon layer hole? Most probably YES !!
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