Image Credits: NOAA – National Weather Service – Climate Prediction Center
By WUWT Regular “Just The Facts”
On the heels of Andrew Dessler’s Ozone Hole tweet, we have from the BBC:
“Researchers from the University of East Anglia have discovered evidence of four new gases that can destroy ozone and are getting into the atmosphere from as yet unidentified sources.”
“Scientists have identified four new man-made gases that are contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer.
Two of the gases are accumulating at a rate that is causing concern among researchers.”
“Other scientists acknowledged that while the current concentrations of these gases are small and they don’t present an immediate concern, work would have to be done to identify their origin.
“This paper highlights that ozone depletion is not yet yesterday’s story,” said Prof Piers Forster, from the University of Leeds.
“The concentrations found in this study are tiny. Nevertheless, this paper reminds us we need to be vigilant and continually monitor the atmosphere for even small amounts of these gases creeping up, either through accidental or unplanned emissions.
“Of the four species identified, CFC-113a seems the most worrying as there is a very small but growing emission source somewhere, maybe from agricultural insecticides. We should find it and take it out of production.”
The paper “Newly detected ozone-depleting substances in the atmosphere” Laube et al., paywalled, can be found here:
“Ozone-depleting substances emitted through human activities cause large-scale damage to the stratospheric ozone layer, and influence global climate. Consequently, the production of many of these substances has been phased out; prominent examples are the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and their intermediate replacements, the hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). So far, seven types of CFC and six types of HCFC have been shown to contribute to stratospheric ozone destruction1, 2. Here, we report the detection and quantification of a further three CFCs and one HCFC.”
“Our observations on air samples collected in remote regions of the atmosphere show the presence of four previously undetected ozone-depleting substances (ODSs). We have identified and quantified CFC-112 (CFCl2CFCl2), CFC-112a (CF2ClCCl3), CFC-113a (CF3CCl3) and HCFC-133a (CF3CH2Cl) in the atmosphere (Fig. 1). We have reconstructed their past abundances from air extracted from deep polar firn, which can provide a natural archive of atmospheric composition up to about a century back in time5. Our firn air measurements suggest that all four newly reported compounds are anthropogenic (see also Supplementary Information), with insignificant atmospheric abundances before the 1960s.”
For reference, the images the head of this article show the current Northern “Ozone Hole” within the Northern Polar Vortex, at 10 hPa/mb – Approximately 31,000 meters (101,700 feet). Draw your own conclusions…
“Researchers from the University of East Anglia have discovered evidence of four new gases that can destroy ozone and are getting into the atmosphere from as yet unidentified sources.
“Scientists have identified four new man-made gases that are contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer.
Two of the gases are accumulating at a rate that is causing concern among researchers.””
If the sources are unidentified, how can they say the gases are man-made? How do they know there isn’t a natural source for the gases? After all, there are natural sources for CFCs; for example, volcanic processes, bacteria, fungi, plants, lichen, insects, and marine animals.
Alumni from the other course at East Anglia perhaps?
I hate to break it to these researchers, but these are not ‘new’ gases. All were identified in the Montreal Protocol as ODS (Ozone depleting substances) back in 1989, and their production, or use in production of other than non-ODS materials was banned, or due to be phased out completely by 2030 – the phase out of production is currently at 98%. The hyperbole that these are ‘new’ gases and increased threats to the ozone layer has no place in responsible scientific research when simply looking at the ODS listing at the EPA’s website shows that they are already considered.
A.D. Everard says:
March 9, 2014 at 3:42 pm
In other words: “We’re for sale. Give us lots of money and we’ll point the finger at some aspect of civilization and ramp up the threat. Act now and we’ll throw in a hockey stick for free.”
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No, no, no, no, no A.D.
Not in other words.
Those are the words.
And I wouldn’t be surprised to learn they knew it all along.
Except, I believe I’ve read somewhere they even offer a
100% money back(you wish) guarantee the data will display a hockey stick with extensive torturing.cn
Peter Laux says: March 9, 2014 at 6:36 pm
So lets get this right, CFC’s don’t “destroy the ozone” above Industrial Centres where they are released but migrate too & have an annual jamboree and convention every year at the same time in Antarctica.
Extraordinary really when hardly any atmospheric water vapor from other latitudes can penetrate the Circumpolar winds surrounding Antarctica, thus making it the driest continent on earth.
Yes, there are other “holes” along with the ozone one, i.e.
So ozone is not in a layer but is formed in the Ionosphere as solar UV hits O2 – this “hole” forms during the Antarctic winter where no UV has been wrecking O2 to form Ozone – and we blame a gas as the ‘guilty party’ ………. Detective Colombo would still be asking questions !
Furthermore for Colombo, CFCs do not appear offer a plausible explanation for Northern “Ozone Hole”, i.e. per NASA:
http://ozonewatch.gsfc.nasa.gov/facts/miniholes_NH.html
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="578"]
NOAA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) – Click the pic to view at source[/caption]
Above are:
=====================================================================
And whichever pole is pointed away from the Sun as winter and summer continue.
I guess somebody has to say it: It’s not clear these guys know an o-hole from an a-hole…
Katherine says:
March 9, 2014 at 6:41 pm
If the sources are unidentified, how can they say the gases are man-made? How do they know there isn’t a natural source for the gases? After all, there are natural sources for CFCs; for example, volcanic processes, bacteria, fungi, plants, lichen, insects, and marine animals.
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These people refuse to acknowledge that most ODS have a natural source. The natural concentrations of ODS cannot possibly be known since man-made ODS production began in the 1930s and there is no ODS data prior to that which was gathered during the International Geophysical Year of 1959. They fail to recognize that they have no idea of what the concentration of ODS in the stratosphere was prior to about 1978 when they began regular sampling for ODS – I suspect that because they call these ‘new’, these specific gases weren’t even looked for in previous sampling and thus they have no idea what their concentrations were prior to their current research. They are probably basing previous unknown concentrations on a model developed without sufficient data as well since it is nearly impossible to calculate the background concentrations of ODS from natural sources.
Peter Laux says: March 9, 2014 at 6:36 pm
Detective Colombo would still be asking questions !
Perhaps something like, if “Ozone Holes” form naturally within Northern Polar Vortex, why would we assume that the “Ozone Hole” that forms in the Southern Polar Vortex is caused by CFCs?
Mike I agree with your comment. As far as the Antarctic ozone hole it is above the ring of fire and there are active volcanoes in the Antarctic region. Anyone know how we can plug up volcanoes,
LOL
R113a , CAS No 75. may be purchased from Zejiang China. It may be purchased in 250Kg ISO tanks. It is used as a precursor for other useful molecules such as R134a. I am not surprised that they claim not to know the major source. It can be easily found on the web. They probably are afraid to mention it.
Here is the “Ozone Hole” within the Northern Polar Vortex on January 30th, 2014 at 30 hPa/mb – Approximately 23,700 meters (77,800 feet):
NOAA – National Weather Service – Climate Prediction Center – Click the pic to view at source[/caption]
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"]
What is particularly interesting is that there is an “Ozone Hole”, within an “Ozone Hole”, within another “Ozone Hole”…
Insanity at it’s finest. A tiny amount , but it may get worse. Watch out for the kitchen sink, they must be about ready to throw that in, also.
Bill Illis says:
March 9, 2014 at 5:01 pm
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If any surface gases were to have an effect on ozone levels, then volcanic bromine and chlorine would clearly outweigh any human effort.
However it should be noted that ozone being thin to non-existent over the poles was predicted from sounding rocket data before satellites.
The reason for natural ozone holes is simple physics. Solar UV produces atomic oxygen (O) by splitting diatomic oxygen (O2) molecules. If there is sufficient atmospheric density where this occurs atomic oxygen can combine with O2 to produce ozone (O3). The Ozone produced is highly reactive and can be destroyed even by a collision with an O2 molecule. This means there is a limited altitude at which ozone will exist and its production and destruction is a continuous and rapid process.
Closer to the poles, the angle of incidence of UV radiation, relative to perpendicular to the atmosphere, increases. This means that UV must pass through more low density gas at higher altitude. The UV here is being absorbed before it reaches a level where atomic oxygen produced has much chance of collision with O2 and recombination into O3. The holes in the ozone layer are right where they are supposed to be.
The UN has been seriously compromised by the collapse of the global warming inanity. The revival of the Ozone hole scare seems an attempt to allow the IPCC to be thrown under the bus while saving the WMO and UNEP. This however is unlikely to work in the age of the Internet. The propaganda pushed in the original scare blamed humans for the hole. New propaganda that “there should be a hole but humans are making it worse” cannot be built on this foundation.
…I think the source is Prius electrical fumes. Greenie pollution.
justthefactswuwt says:
March 9, 2014 at 7:15 pm
“What is particularly interesting is that there is an “Ozone Hole”, within an “Ozone Hole”, within another “Ozone Hole”…”
Just showing that the homogeneous layer model of the ozone is wrong. Its a plasma layer… The polar vortex probably has something to do with its yearly shape and size… CRISTA shows the ozone layer is built like a plasma layer between different density plasma’s surrounding a solid object.
CRISTA and Related Papers
“CRISTA ( CRyogenic Infrared Spectrometers and Telescopes for the Atmosphere) is
a limb-scanning satellite experiment, designed and developed by the University of Wuppertal to measure infrared emissions of the earth’s atmosphere.
Equipped with three telescopes and four spectrometers and cooled with liquid helium, CRISTA acquires global 3D-maps of temperature and atmospheric trace gases with very high horizontal and vertical resolution. The design enables the observation of small scale dynamical structures in the 10-150 km altitude region.”
http://crista.uni-wuppertal.de/crista/publications.html
Mike Tremblay says:
March 9, 2014 at 6:47 pm
I hate to break it to these researchers, but these are not ‘new’ gases. All were identified in the Montreal Protocol as ODS (Ozone depleting substances) back in 1989, and their production, or use in production of other than non-ODS materials was banned, or due to be phased out completely by 2030 – the phase out of production is currently at 98%. The hyperbole that these are ‘new’ gases and increased threats to the ozone layer has no place in responsible scientific research when simply looking at the ODS listing at the EPA’s website shows that they are already considered.
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Yep, right here:
http://www.epa.gov/ozone/science/ods/classtwo.html
97% sure my bs meter is pegged.
Possible source of these vapors, Wattsupwiththat blog due to the posting of Walter K.
Ah. Sounds suspiciously like the climate units funding must be up for review.
It’s about the 2014 state of fear awards? The competition is hard and lots of state funded are competing?
Let us not forget that eventually the boy who cried wolf was crying about a real wolf.
CO2 obsession can cut both ways.
It can make skeptics reflexively dismissive of real threats, simply because of the source of the warning.
Let’s keep ourselves on the right side of things and learn more so we can ask informed questions.
“Two of the gases are accumulating at a rate that is causing concern among researchers.”
Wake me up when it causes concern among people who are not financially dependant on this.
Katherine nailed UEA bad science ergo assumptions in one shot. As others have regarding the physics and involved atmospherics.
Good post and topic ‘Just the Facts’! I confess to almost not reading further when I hit that UEA obstacle. Ruined reputation, absurd science, silly publications supported by pal review, and real scientists suffocating within UEA forced consensus.
Then again, perhaps UEA has been generating these vapors themselves cooking their strange brews in secret laboratories.
One thing is certain, UEA researchers have been Bogarting their own fumes in shadowy closed rooms for too long.
@JohnB 6.43, The minute I saw the milkman episode I thought of UEA. Thanks for the laughs!