We all know that the Earth’s ozone layer has a major impact on the climatic experiences on the planet. While the depleting layer had rendered the air and ocean currents off their natural course over several decades, the undesired trend now seems to have come to a pause and might even be reversed in the coming years. Courtesy: the world!
The shred of good news comes as scientists observe that the ozone layer over Antarctica has recovered to the point that several atmospheric changes in the Earth’s southern hemisphere have come to a halt. Before the start of the century, the changes were enough to cause dramatic change in weather patterns in several parts of the world.
WEF
A new study now suggests that the reversing conditions or in more optimistic words, the healing of the Earth, can be accredited to the Montreal Protocol signed by the world leaders back in 1987. The pact directed nations across the globe to stop using ozone depleting substances (ODSs) for several applications.
By the time the pact came into effect, Ozone depletion had already caused the fast air currents (called jet streams) in the southern hemisphere to shift further south, causing changes in weather patterns and a dry spell in many areas accustomed to rainfall. This southward drift of the jet streams suddenly stopped after more than a decade of the Montreal Protocol, around the year 2000. Only last year, the Ozone layer hole over Antarctica was recorded to be at its smallest since 1982.
In a new study, researchers indicate that the check on ODS production had a hand in stopping this shift of jet streams to further south of the planet. Using simulations, the researchers have managed to show a distinctive relation between the Montreal Protocol and the migration of the jet stream.
(Representative Image: Reuters)
A ray of hope!
The correlation between the pact and the reversing jet stream migration and weather patterns is a terrific example of how nations across the globe can collectively make an impact on reducing the harm done to the environment. Once widely used in refrigeration and electrical components, the reduction in the use of ozone depleting substances has let the ozone layer heal over the Earth and humans on the whole can take the credit for this.
However, it is important to note that the pattern has just paused and at best, slightly reverted to the norm. While the ODSs have been done away with, humans continue to produce excessive amounts of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that can lead to major climatic shifts.
So as earth’s climatic conditions stand at a cusp of regaining their natural course, it is yet to be seen how further human activities have an impact. Scientists explain that this can either be moved towards the Earth’s recovery or can lead to further changes in the climatic patterns.
Even so, we now at least have a working example of how things can be changed for good if appropriate measures are taken. So as earthlings, this should serve us as an leading illustration of how we can take car of our planet collectively.
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