Relationships Discovered Between Ozone Depletion, Mercury and Arctic Ice

Tuesday, January 28th, 2014 

Mercury and ozone depletion events in the Arctic linked to sea-ice dynamics

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-01/dri-mao011414.php

Image From: http://nsidc.org/cryosphere/quickfacts/seaice.html

Dr. Moore and Obrist of Nevada's Desert Research Institute found a relationship between sea-ice and ozone depletion events that can greatly damage the Arctic ecosystems. 
Large cracks in the ice expose warmer seawater to cooler atmosphere, creating a pumping effect that causes atmospheric depletion events. The destruction of ozone and this pumping event allows mercury from a higher layer of atmosphere to be pulled to the surface. 
Normally, mercury is removed from the system naturally, but when this extra mercury is added, it creates a cycle that allows the harmful mercury to be deposited into the ice during snowmelt. This addition of mercury can be compared to the equilibrium equation we learned about in the module known as the chapman cycle, although they are not quite the same and involve different elements. 
Now that we know about this relationship between the atmosphere, ozone depletion and sea-ice, further research will help establish the impact of these events on the earth. 

Sri Lanka's Depletion of Ozone Depleting Substances

Tuesday, January 28th, 2014

Check on Ozone depleting substances

http://www.dailynews.lk/local/check-ozone-depleting-substances

Sri Lanka Environment and Renewable Energy Minister Susil Premajayantha recently stated that the use and importation of equipment with ozone depleting substances will be officially banned by 2020. In accordance with the Montreal Protocol, which we discussed this week, they have phased out 54 of 96 ozone depleting substances and are further implementing restrictions in order to totally taper them off. HCFCs are currently their biggest obstacle, but Sri Lanka's customs offices have now been given tools which will allow them to detect any substances and keep them from getting into the country. Attention will also be given to the proper disposal of equipment which is already in use. 

Image From: http://info.apwatersummit2.org/gallery/img_2577/

A Discussion of the Antarctic Ozone Recovery

Tuesday, January 28th, 2014

Antarctic ozone recovery will be a long and bumpy road

http://theconversation.com/antarctic-ozone-recovery-will-be-a-long-and-bumpy-road-22429

This article begins by giving a general summary of the issues surrounding ozone depletion like: CFCs, the Montreal Protocol and Dobson Units. These are topics that chapter 2 of our book covers in depth. Then, they discuss the limitations of Dobson Units and mention that improvements have been made in the ways and devices we use to measure ozone concentration.

In the second half of the article, they discuss the recovery of the ozone hole. A trend of recovery can be seen throughout the measurements taken, but due to wind and other factors, levels of ozone vary each year. Examples are given where ozone measured less at the end of the summer season than in the previous year, leading some to mistake this as digression. However, there is likely just less ozone to start with that year, and so less total ozone was lost over the season. Over all, ozone levels are consistently increasing and recovery is likely around 2070.

Image from: http://discovermagazine.com/2013/may/02-is-the-ozone-hole-shrinking#.UuhSvhb0Bdg