Seminar

Emergence of Healing in the Antarctic Ozone Layer

DSRC entrance

Susan Solomon, MIT Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences

Wednesday, August 3, 2016, 3:30 pm Mountain Time
DSRC 2A305

Abstract

The discovery of the Antarctic ozone hole shocked the world in 1985 and contributed to remarkable changes in policy as well as in environmental science and publicunderstanding. Industrial chlorofluorocarbons that cause ozone depletion were phased out under the Montreal Protocol. A chemically-driven increase in polar ozone (or "healing") is expected in response to this historic agreement. I will show how observations and model calculations taken together indicate that the onset of healing of Antarctic ozone loss has now emerged in September. Key measurements to be discussed in this talk include the long records maintained at the South Pole by NOAA. Fingerprints of September healing since 2000 are identified through (i) increases in ozone column amounts, (ii) changes in the vertical profile of ozone concentration, and (iii) decreases in the areal extent of the ozone hole. Along with chemistry, dynamical and temperature changes contribute to the healing, but could represent feedbacks to chemistry. Volcanic eruptions episodically interfere with healing, particularly during 2015 (when a record October ozone hole occurred following the Calbuco eruption).


Susan Solomon is a Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry & Climate Science in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Science at MIT. She is internationally recognized as a leader in atmospheric science, particularly for her insights in explaining the cause of the Antarctic ozone "hole". She and her colleagues have made important contributions to understanding chemistry/climate coupling, including leading research on the irreversibility of global warming linked to anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions, and on the influence of the ozone hole on the climate of the southern hemisphere. Her current focus is on issues relating to both atmospheric chemistry and climate change.

ALL Seminar attendees agree not to cite, quote, copy, or distribute material presented without the explicit written consent of the seminar presenter. Any opinions expressed in this seminar are those of the speaker alone and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of NOAA or CSL.