Decreased atmospheric CFC concentration

1994/05/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Ingurumena

The concentration of chlorofluorocarbons called CFC letters has declined considerably in recent times, according to some measurements made by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the United States. The measured values are shown in the following diagrams. Continuous lines indicate the predictions made by scientists and the values of measurements made by broken lines. The experts are surprised because they did not expect such a big descent.

This means that the ozone layer is completed quickly, as there are still enough CFCs to be damaged for years up. At the beginning of the following century, the hypothesis that the thinning of the layer detected on the poles is due to elements called CFCs can be verified. Ozone holes (in reality there are no holes, but a thinner layer) may have been produced for reasons beyond the Earth's industrial activity.

Ozone is constantly renewed at certain temperatures by the effect of ultraviolet rays, but when the temperature is too low, as in the poles, the ozone renewal process slows or stops.