Scientist says Asia responsible for the thinning of ozone layer
Scientist says Asia responsible for the thinning of ozone layer
By Paul de Bendern
KIRUNA, Sweden (Reuters): The failure of China and India to
phase out dangerous chemicals threatens the progress made in
healing the earth's protective ozone layer, the man who
discovered the ozone hole over Antarctica said on Sunday.
Since British scientist Joe Farman identified the hole in
1985, the volume of ozone-killing substances released into the
atmosphere has been cut but more needed to be done, he said.
"The problem is now with the developing countries, especially
China, India and perhaps Malaysia and Indonesia as well," Farman
said in Kiruna, 150 km north of the Arctic circle.
Some 350 scientists from around the world were attending the
launch this weekend of the biggest study ever into ozone loss
over Europe and the Arctic, at a research center in northern
Sweden.
The discovery of the thinning of the ozone layer high in the
atmosphere led to the 1989 Montreal Protocol, which almost all of
the major developed and developing countries have signed.
But some countries, especially developing countries, have not
yet complied with the protocol, which commits them to phasing out
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) -- often used in refrigerators -- and
other chemicals by certain dates.
"Developing countries have a little more time under the
protocol but it is not clear that they will meet their targets to
cut emissions," Farman said. "One of the dangers is still the
indiscriminate use of halon."
The ozone layer, which shields the earth from the sun's
harmful radiation, has been thinning for years through the use of
damaging man-made chemicals, increasing the number of skin
cancers and contributing to global warming.
Some progress
Since 1985 governments have stopped or controlled some harmful
emissions, such as those from aerosol sprays.
"There's progress in the sense that ozone-killing substances
have generally stopped being released, but you have to realize
that once they are in the air it takes a long time before they go
away," said Farman.
"So, no, things haven't got better but the steps have been
taken that will ensure that eventually they will disappear."
The ozone hole over Antarctica, where the layer has been
damaged most, is not worsening, Farmer said.
"There are yearly variations but there is nothing which we can
say is a systematic trend. It's certainly not getting better yet
but it would be very foolish to say it is getting worse."
The Antarctic hole covered 9.8 million sq miles (25.4 million
sq km) on Sept. 15, an area more than two-and-a-half times the
size of Europe.
Very cold winter weather over the Arctic circle and northern
Europe in recent weeks has reduced the ozone layer there and may
create a new hole in it.
"We've got ozone depletion in the Arctic but it does not look
as dramatic as Antarctica. But it's there and it's growing and
will probably get worse for the next four or five years," said
Farman.