LONDON: A recent study shows that levels of a new ozone-eating gas are on the rise.
These chemicals referred to as “very short-lived substances” (VSLS), occur naturally as well as in man-made forms, writes Nature World News.
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The chemicals do not fall under the United Nations Montreal Protocol, a treaty designed to protect the Ozone Layer, because until now – they have barely contributed to ozone depletion.
“But we have identified now that one of these chemicals is increasing rapidly and, if this increase is allowed to continue, it could offset some of the benefits to the Ozone Layer provided by the Montreal Protocol,” study lead author Dr. Ryan Hossaini, from the University of Leeds, said in a statement.
The chemical in question is known as dichloromethane, a man-made VSLS, which is used in big industry.
While past research has shown that the ozone is showing signs of recovery – this new discovery could halt this.
“The presence of increasing dichloromethane will lead to uncertainty in our future predictions of ozone and climate,” said co-author Martyn Chipperfield.
Scientists generally look at the effect of chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, which are longer-lived gases that eat away at the Earth’s ozone – but VSLS are in the spotlight as this new study shows VSLS-driven ozone depletion are nearly four times more efficient at influencing climate than CFCs, writes Nature World News.
VSLS may stay in the atmosphere for a shorter amount of time but they break down and destroy ozone in the lowermost part of the stratosphere – which causes more impact.
“This is important, as a molecule of ozone lost in this region has a far larger impact on climate than a molecule destroyed at higher altitudes by longer-lived gases,” Hossaini explained.
VSLS from natural sources, including seaweed, accounts for around 90 percent of the total ozone loss caused by VSLS in the lower stratosphere – but there is now the man-made compounds that the ozone is feeling the effects of.
