Open AccessResearch Spotlight: Ozone hole shift exposed South America to increased ultraviolet light
Author(s) -
Ofori Leslie,
Tretkoff Ernie
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/eo091i036p00324-04
Subject(s) - ozone depletion , ultraviolet , ultraviolet light , ozone , ozone layer , ultraviolet radiation , environmental science , atmospheric sciences , meteorology , physics , chemistry , photochemistry , optics , radiochemistry
The ozone layer, which protects humans, plants, and animals from potentially damaging ultraviolet (UV) light from the Sun, develops a hole above Antarctica in September that typically lasts until early December. However, in November 2009, that hole shifted its position, leaving the southern tip of South America exposed to UV light at levels much greater than normal.