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Dear All, Nov 8, 2006 Further to my question of Sept 10, 2005 (below) I have from day one doubted the conventional CFC rationale for preferental depletion at the poles. In spite of most CFC release being at low latitudes the consequences are seen mostly at the poles, so the rationale goes, because only over the poles does ozone have the optimum temperature for the reaction or some such explanation; sure. So I was interested to see a few days ago, in an old article on the northern lights (Smithsonian 7(11):64-69, 1977), that "Chemical changes in the atmosphere are also provoked by the influx of energetic particles. In particular, the density of nitric oxide increases. The gas catalytically destroys ozone...". This influx of particles takes place at the poles. Have there been any studies of possible relationships between polar ozone thinning on the one hand and auroral activity, solar wind storms and/or sunspot cycles on the other ? The article also mentions in passing the enigma of sound generation by northern lights. I have read elsewhere that attempts to record sound produced by the northern lights have recorded only silence [and in another context, cannon roars recorded for the 1812 Overture by conventional methods sounded like a soap bubble bursting]. Many people, including yours truly, have heard the northern lights so one must ask what form of energy is being 'heard'. Is it possible that inner ear papillae can act as detectors for high frequency radio waves generated by electrical discharges ? Yours truly, Dave Webster, Kentville \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ Hi Jim & All, Sept 10, 2005 Has anyone examined a possible connection between sunspot cycles and ozone thinning at the poles ? DW Jim Wolford wrote: > Thanks, Judy! Note no mention of specific areas of the atmosphere, > e.g. Antarctic vs. Arctic vs. everywhere else. I recall discussions > about the dreaded CFCs (clorofluorocarbons) in refrigerators etc., and > that discontinuing or drastically reducing their levels released would > still not show results for decades because of the lifespans of those > chemicals in the atmosphere. > > Cheers from Jim > ---------- > From: Judy Tufts <tandove@ns.sympatico.ca> > <mailto:tandove@ns.sympatico.ca> > Date: Fri, 09 Sep 2005 09:13:57 -0300 > To: Jim Wolford <jimwolford@eastlink.ca> <mailto:jimwolford@eastlink.ca> > Subject: Re: Historical perspective > > You wrote: > > > > Historical info' on Herald's page 2 Sept. 8/05: > > > > TODAY IN HISTORY: > > > > Canadian scientists with the federal government confirmed 18 years ago > today, in 1987, that a large hole in the ozone layer had formed above > the Arctic in the previous year. On Sept. 15, diplomats from around > the world reached an agreement in Montreal on a pact to protect the > ozone layer. > > > > [How effective has that Montreal Protocol been??] > > > > > > Cheers from Jim in Wolfville > > > > > > Hi Jim : > > > You were wondering about the effectivenss of the Montreal ProtocolS( > > > > I do not know whether you receive łE/The Environment Magazine˛ > (e.magazine.com) news > > on-line but it does give some encouraging news on the Montreal > Protocol. Thought you would be interested in the following article. > > > > Judy T. > > > > >>>>>>>>>>>> > > > > > Ozone Layer On the Mend, Thanks to Montreal Protocol > > > September 6, 2005 > > Reporting by Roddy Scheer > > Researchers monitoring Earth's atmosphere for the National Oceanic and > Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) report that the ozone layer has > stopped shrinking and can now make steps toward recovery over the next > several decades. They reported that while the ozone layer has started > to thicken in some parts of the world, it is still "well below normal > levels." These recent findings, reported last week in the Journal of > Geophysical Research, were based on analyses of satellite records and > surface monitoring instruments. > > > > Scientists laud the 1987 Montreal Protocol, an international agreement > phasing out the production of ozone-depleting chemicals, as the > catalyst that prevented further destruction of the ozone layer, which > is critical to life on Earth since it shields living things from > excessive amounts of harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun. > > "These early signs indicate one of the strongest success stories of > international cooperation in the face of an environmental threat," > says Conrad Lautenbacher, NOAA's administrator. > > But just because the ozone layer is rebuilding does not give people > license to increase their sun exposure, which can still cause cancer > nevertheless. "This study provides some very encouraging news," says > the World Health Organization's Mike Repacholi. "But the major cause > of skin cancer is still human behavior, including tanning and sunburns > that result from a lack of proper skin protection." < > > > > >>>>>>>>>>> > > Judy Tufts > > Wolfville > > <<<<<<<<<<< > > >
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