Filling Ozone Hole Will Change Surface Climate

Computer rendation of Antarctic ozone measurements

Southern hemisphere weather will be altered as the Antarctic ozone hole recovers from chlorofluorocarbon pollution over the next 50 years.

Scientists from Columbia University say they have determined that the eventual healing of the ozone hole over Antarctica during the second half of this century may significantly alter Earth’s surface climate.

Analyzing projections by various climate models, a team of 10 scientists found that a return to a normal southern stratospheric ozone layer could have profound impacts on surface winds and other aspects of the Earth’s climate.

Changes would occur in surface temperatures, locations of storm tracks, extent of dry zones, amount of sea ice and ocean circulation, the Columbia team said.

"We were surprised to find that the closing of the ozone hole, which is expected to occur in the next 50 years or so, shows significant effects on the global climate," said Lorenzo M. Polvani, one of two principal investigators and professor of applied physics and applied mathematics at Columbia's School of Engineering and Applied Science.

"This is because stratospheric ozone has not (in the past) been considered a major player in the climate system."

The study appears in the June 13th issue of the journal Science.

Photo: NASA's Goddard Scientific Visualization Studio
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