Ozone: New Simulation Shows Consequences Of A World Without Earth's Natural Sunscreen
Thursday, March 19, 2009 - 09:39
in Earth & Climate
The year is 2065. Nearly two-thirds of Earth's ozone is gone -- not just over the poles, but everywhere. The infamous ozone hole over Antarctica is a year-round fixture, with a twin over the North Pole. The ultraviolet (UV) radiation falling on mid-latitude cities is strong enough to cause sunburn in just five minutes. Such is the world we would have inherited if 193 nations had not agreed to ban ozone-depleting substances, according to atmospheric chemists