MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Research lab in extreme south Chile “cautious” about recovery of the ozone layer

Punta Arenas in extreme south of Chile is exposed to the full impact of the ozone layer thinning

Last September 17 and for two days the ozone layer hole recorded a minor event over the city of Punta Arenas in the extreme south of Chile, although not sufficiently weak as to have recorded an increase in potentially dangerous ultraviolet radiation.

In spite of a recent United Nations report saying the ozone layer is no longer depleting and could recoup its strength by 2048, outside the polar regions, Claudio Casiccia, head of the Ozone and Ultraviolet radiation Lab from the University of Magallanes in Punta Arenas is ‘more cautious’.

“The size of the ozone layer thinning is currently close to 20 million square kilometres, while last year at this same time it was estimated between 24 and 25 million sq km, nevertheless this is not yet a clear signal that the ozone layer is recovering”, argues Casiccia.

In fact there have been years when the layer was relatively weak and then the following season the hole emerged with even more intensity. Therefore, “it is essential to adopt protection measures and be prepared for when UV radiation soars again”, warned the Chilean expert.

The Magallanes University ozone lab has been working on research since 1992 which means good reliable records. Last year the lab begun a program to launch probes to the ozone layer financed by the Japanese government. The program is scheduled to continue until 2012 and is jointly developed with Argentina.

“With the data we have we can say that the thinning of the ozone layer will continue for at least a couple years more, but maybe less intensely. This means there have been a slight improvement but it’s still too early to conclude that the ozone layer is recovering, or not. There are indications, but we need further information to support such a statement”.

Casiccia said that so far in 2010, the phenomenon is performing almost average the last ten years, possibly a tiny weaker.