Decline in Ozone Over the Arctic Intensifies Drought Conditions in Europe and Eurasia

Nature Geoscience, 7 July 2022

Increasing emissions of ozone-depleting substances has weakened the ozone layer over the Arctic, contributing to extreme weather anomalies across the entire Northern Hemisphere. Ozone serves as a protective barrier in the high atmosphere, absorbing harmful radiation from the sun. As emissions rise, the ozone layer thins above the Arctic. The loss of this protective barrier decreases the amount of radiation it can absorb and produces low-temperature currents high in the atmosphere. Together, these factors strengthen the polar vortex during the spring, delaying its break-up and producing abnormally wet weather over northern Europe; while increasing hot and dry springtime conditions in southern Europe and Eurasia. Rising temperatures across the Arctic have also shifted local wind patterns and further increased the intensity of the polar vortex, which further amplifies ozone loss above the Arctic. These findings reiterate the significance of reducing not only carbon emissions, but those of ozone-depleting substances to protect vulnerable communities against rapid changes to the global climate system.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-022-00974-7