Definition of Ozone Hole

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TeachMeFinance.com - explain Ozone Hole



Ozone Hole

The term 'Ozone Hole' as it applies to the area of Earth observation can be defined as ' A large area of intense stratospheric ozone depletion over the Antarctic continent that typically occurs annually between late August and early October, and generally ends in mid-November. This severe ozone thinning has increased conspicuously since the late seventies and early eighties. This phenomenon is the result of chemical mechanisms initiated by man-made chlorofluorocarbons (see CFCs). Continued buildup of CFCs is expected to lead to additional ozone loss worldwide. The thinning is focused in the Antarctic because of particular meteorological conditions there. During Austral spring (September and October in the Southern Hemisphere) a belt of stratospheric winds encircles Antarctica essentially isolating the cold stratospheric air there from the warmer air of the middle latitudes. The frigid air permits the formation of ice clouds that facilitate chemical interactions among nitrogen, hydrogen, and chlorine (elevated from CFCs) '.

The term 'Ozone Hole' as it applies to the area of the weather can be defined as ' An atmospheric layer that contains a high proportion of oxygen that exists as ozone. It acts as a filtering mechanism against incoming ultraviolet radiation. It is located between the troposphere and the stratosphere, around 9.5 to 12.5 miles (15 to 20 kilometers) above the earth's surface'.


Previous 5 Terms:
Ozone
Ozone (O3)
Ozone Action Day
Ozone Advisory
Ozone Depleting Substance (ODS)
Next 5 Terms:
Ozone Layer
ozone mini-hole(s)
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ozone-measuring satellite instruments
ozoniferous




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Mark McCracken

Author: Mark McCracken is a corporate trainer and author living in Higashi Osaka, Japan. He is the author of thousands of online articles as well as the Business English textbook, "25 Business Skills in English".


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