Atmospheric ozone recovering in mid-latitudes, report shows

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This chart represents the accumulation of total organic chlorine (number per billion atmospheric molecules) in the lower atmosphere. It plots the changing contributions from human-made chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) chlorinated solvents and the replaceme ...
This chart represents the accumulation of total organic chlorine (number per billion atmospheric molecules) in the lower atmosphere. It plots the changing contributions from human-made chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), chlorinated solvents and the replacements for these compounds (called the HCFCs). Also shown is the almost-constant contribution from chloromethanes, which are mostly produced by natural processes. The data is derived from continuous sampling of Earth's atmosphere since 1978 at five remote locations around the world by the Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment (AGAGE), which is sponsored by NASA. Credit: Chart Courtesy Derek Cunnold
Concentrations of atmospheric ozone -- which protects Earth from the sun's ultraviolet radiation -- are showing signs of recovery in the most important regions of the stratosphere above the mid-latitudes in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres, a new study shows.


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All News summaries for August 30, 2006