Question

In which place the first ozone hole was discovered?
A) Australia
B) Antarctic
C) Africa
D) Arctic

Answer 1

Hint: By ozone hole we mean the concept of ozone depletion only which has been very much in news over the decade. The phenomenon was first observed in the mid – 1980’s and announced specifically on 16th May 1985.

Complete answer:
The ozone layer was first discovered by French physicists Charles Fabry and Henri Buisson in 1913. The layer starts approximately from 15 to 35 kilometers above the earth and its thickness varies seasonally and geographically.

So, we know that the ozone layer is a thin part of our earth’s atmosphere (stratosphere) and it absorbs the harmful ultra – violet lights or radiation released by the sun. The concept of ozone layer depletion or the ozone hole is the phenomenon or name for the area or patches of the Ozone layer which are damaged.

In the mid 1980’s three scientists, Joe Farman, Brian Gardiner and Jonathan shanklin from the British Antarctic survey announced the phenomenon of “unanticipated and large decrease of the ozone layer in the stratosphere.

This was observed over the Antarctic stations of Halley & Faraday and it came to be known as the Antarctic ozone hole.

Hence the correct answer is option ‘B’.

Note:
-Evidence has been found that the ozone layer has started to heal, i.e. the hole is being covered.
-Ozone depletion and climate change are linked in a number of ways, but ozone depletion is not a major cause of climate change.
-Carbon dioxide has no direct effect on ozone, unlike chlorofluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons. But a higher level of carbon dioxide does have an indirect effect on the ozone layer.