Destruction of Arctic Ozone this Winter

3.10.2005

Why study the poles so intently? Scientists want to understand the large-scale environmental changes that are occurring in Earth's polar regions because they have major societal and economic impacts. In addition, studying them helps advance new scientific frontiers, such as understanding the role of the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets in sea level rise.

Aura's MLS has quantified ozone destruction in the 2004-2005 Arctic winter

• unprecedended suite of simultaneous measurements by MLS allows more accurate quantification of ozone destruction than previously possible
• the destruction this winter reached a level seen only once before in the Arctic

Transport processes compensated for the destruction to an unusual degree this winter, resulting in near-average Arctic ozone amounts in spring