In March 2024, ozone concentration over the Arctic will reach an all-time high, a critical time for atmospheric science. NASA researchers and the University of Leeds presented their findings in Geophysical Research Letters in September 2024. This increase in ozone levels was attributed to severe atmospheric disturbances during the winter of 2023-2024, which caused more ozone to enter the stratosphere than ever before. , based on satellite data. A series of tropical cyclones extended the stratospheric air stream around the Arctic between December 2023 and March 2024, explained Paul Newman, NASA’s chief geoscientist. This problem causes ozone to flow from the mid-latitudes to the Arctic. Winter is important because there is very little ozone depletion from harmful chemicals like chlorine, so it’s a dynamic time. This record is in stark contrast to March 2020, when Arctic ozone levels reached record lows due to persistent polar vortex conditions and ozone depletion reactions.
Although ozone holes occur annually in Antarctica, Arctic ozone concentrations are more variable and affect stratospheric weather patterns. This difference will increase by 2024. High levels of ozone in the stratosphere are beneficial because the ozone layer absorbs harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. The researchers estimated that from April to July 2024, UV levels in the Arctic will have decreased by 6 to 7 percent, while the northern regions by 2 to 6 percent. This reduces the risk of skin cancer, cataracts and DNA damage in plants. The rise in ozone levels is part of the long-term recovery of the ozone layer following the banning of ozone-depleting substances by the Montreal Protocol in 1987. Although not Arctic ozone will recover significantly until 2045. Newman and his team see the 2024 record as a good sign for the future. The increase in greenhouse gases in the stratosphere also contributes to the acceleration of ozone depletion and contributes to the observed adverse effects.
The authors did not find a clear link between the phenomenon and broader weather patterns such as El Niño, and note that even if the weather patterns are involved, the impact is unclear. However, they predict future ozone levels.