Aura-OMI Ozone Hole from September 12, 2004 to November 15,2004 with Polar Vortex Demarced

View Resource

No Strings Attached

Author:

Anne Douglass, Ernest Hilsenrath, Greg Shirah, Lori Perkins, Mark Schoeberl, Michelle Santee, Stuart Snodgrass

Subject:

Science and Technology

Institution Name:

NASA

Collection:

NASA GSFC Scientific Visualization Studio

Grade Level:

Secondary, Post-secondary

Abstract:

Data from NASA satellites establishes a 40 year record of stratospheric ozone measurements. The stratospheric ozone layer shields life on Earth from harmful solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Research shows that excess exposure to UV radiation causes skin cancer and eye problems and impacts plant growth. Global stratospheric ozone has decreased by 3 percent globally between 1980 and 2000 and has thinned by 50 percent over Antarctica in winter and spring. Depletion of the ozone layer allows more UV radiation to reach the Earths surface. This animation shows the ozone layer blocking harmful UV radiation from the Earths surface. The hole in the ozone is seen in purple. The location, size, and shape of the polar vortex is derived from potential vorticity data, PV. The pv, shown in white at 550 degrees Kelvin, is an atmospheric regional event that isolates polar air from the air at lower latitudes, producing conditions favorable for wintertime polar ozone depletion. The animation shows that most of the low-temperature and chemically-perturbed region is confined within the polar vortex during the Antarctic winter.

Course Type:

Learning Module

Languages:

English

Material Type:

Other

Media Format:

Graphics/Photos, Text/HTML, Video

Technical Requirements:

Real player|Need MPEG-2 viewer, such as Visual Circuits HDfocus or Electrosonic HD Video Server

Conditions of Use:

Public Domain
Please give credit to NASA GSFC Scientific Visualization Studio