Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 12/20/2007 - 12:38
Forums
South Pole Ozone Changes

Dear Ms. Bergholz and the Team,

What are you researching in Antarctica? Are you trying to prove a certain point? If so, what is it?

Thank you1Smile

Natasha

Sun, 12/23/2007 - 22:15

Elke Bergholz

Hi Natasha thank you for the questionYes, Happy IPY to you ! All is going well here and we confirmed some good predictions. We are researching the ozone layer, CFC's and CO2. The NOAA station has been collecting data here for many decades to monitor the gases in the armosphere here at the South Pole and at other stations. We and other atmospheric research labs have made many different points even though we do the work here in Antarctica. We can say that 5 - 10 % of all ozone is lost over other parts of the world. We compare the data to other stations in the world and can make that conclusion.The station keeps track of the Antarctic ozone hole developing every August through November It is because of this data that we detected the depletion of the ozone. We also found out that the CFC's deplete the ozone.  After that , the Montreal protocal was signed with the agreement not to use any CFC's anymore and protect the ozone layer everywhere, not just here. We are all connected via the atmosphere. If all goes well , we have no ozone hole anymore by 2070!! So keep up the good work and reuse , recylce and use the best environmentally save  products!! We contitue to make the point that monitoring the atmospheric gases is important. When we fly the stratospheric balloons we keep track of the ozone in the stratosphere. This season we also researched the surface ozone to learn more about the photochemical reaction between the gases in the snow and the light that produces more ozone on the surface of the snow. We were using the pink balloons for that experiment.   It was good to hear  from you again I hope all your exams went well. I also hope to hear from you again. Have a good break. Cheers ,Elke Bergholz