OZONE HOLE - a gap in the ozonosphere (with a diameter of more than 1000 km), which arose over Antarctica and moved to the populated areas of Australia. Many do not understand why the ozone hole is formed in the Antarctic, when the main emissions of freons occur in the Northern Hemisphere. An ozone hole with a diameter of over 1000 km was first discovered in 1985 in the Southern Hemisphere over Antarctica by a group of British scientists led by George Farman.

The ozone hole is a local drop in the concentration of ozone in the ozone layer of the Earth. Another hole was forming over the Northern Hemisphere in the Arctic, but smaller. At this stage of human development, world scientists have proven that there are a huge number of ozone holes on Earth. But the most dangerous and largest is located over Antarctica.

How do ozone holes appear? How to darn them?

Rowland and Molina suggested that chlorine atoms could cause the destruction of large amounts of ozone in the stratosphere. It is sometimes argued that since Freon molecules are much heavier than nitrogen and oxygen, they cannot reach the stratosphere in significant quantities. Therefore, even such heavy gases as inert or freons are evenly distributed in the atmosphere, reaching, among other things, the stratosphere.

Due to their low reactivity, they are practically not consumed in the lower layers of the atmosphere and have a lifetime of several years or even decades. At this time, the polar region is not illuminated by the Sun, and ozone does not occur there.

The French physicists Charles Fabry and Henri Buisson were the discoverers of the ozone layer. In 1912, they succeeded in using spectroscopic measurements of ultraviolet radiation to prove the existence of ozone in the layers of the atmosphere distant from the Earth. In 1985, the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer was adopted, and in 1987, the Montreal Protocol. Some of them are able to reach the earth's surface and diffuse into the atmosphere through cracks.

1992 was marked for scientists by the fact that already over the Northern Hemisphere in Antarctica another ozone hole was formed, with a much smaller diameter. And in 2008, the diameter of the first ozone phenomenon discovered in Antarctica reached its maximum record size - 27 million square kilometers. Since the ozone layer is designed to protect the surface of our planet from an excess of ultraviolet solar radiation, ozone holes can be considered a phenomenon that is really dangerous for living organisms.

At 20-50 kilometers above the Earth's surface, there is a layer of ozone in the atmosphere. Ozone is a special form of oxygen. The ozone layer of the atmosphere is very thin. If all available atmospheric ozone evenly covers an area of ​​45 square kilometers, then a layer 0.3 centimeters thick will be obtained.

What is the ozone layer and why is its destruction harmful?

In 1978, based on data on the effect of freons on the ozone layer of the atmosphere, the government of the United States of America (USA) banned the production and sale of aerosols containing freons. True, aerosol manufacturers, and many scientists along with them, consider the theory of ozone depletion to be unconvincing. In 1985, British scientists made a startling discovery. They discovered a huge "hole" in the ozone layer over Antarctica. This hole, the size of the US, appears annually in the spring.

The area of ​​the so-called ozone hole, which annually forms in the stratosphere over Antarctica, is 1.7 times the area of ​​the mainland itself, the National Meteorological Administration of Japan said. The ozone "hole" is formed as a result of the destruction of the ozone layer by gases such as freon, and is formed every year between August and December.

Ozone holes - causes and consequences

It appeared every year in August and ceased to exist in December-January. Thus, fluorine does not participate in ozone decay reactions. Iodine also does not destroy stratospheric ozone, since iodine-containing organic substances are almost completely consumed even in the troposphere.

Halogenated hydrocarbons are also present in the gases of hydrothermal sources. So, solid particles that fell into the stratosphere back in 1991 during the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippine Islands still contribute to the formation of ozone holes. The ozone hole poses a danger to living organisms, since the ozone layer protects the Earth's surface from excessive doses of ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

The history of the discovery of ozone holes in the atmosphere

The ozone "hole" (decrease in the concentration of ozone in the atmosphere) constantly exists over the Antarctic; increases in winter, by spring - to a maximum. And there can be no "complete restoration of the ozone layer". It should be noted that ozone is an unstable gas, its molecules decompose rather quickly. Continuous monitoring of the Antarctic ozone hole has been carried out since 1987; it was found that its dimensions are approximately stable - from 21 to 30 million square kilometers.

The ozone layer is located in the stratosphere at an altitude of approximately 25 kilometers from the earth's surface. And again, people are to blame for the appearance of ozone holes. No, of course they didn't tear up the ozone layer in the literal sense.

As a result of the absence of solar radiation, ozone is not formed during the polar nights. This statement is true for middle and high latitudes. In the rest, the chlorine cycle is responsible for only 15-25% of ozone loss in the stratosphere. DuPont, after the publication of data on the participation of freons in the destruction of stratospheric ozone, took this theory with hostility and spent millions of dollars on a press campaign to protect freons.

Experimental measurements of their concentrations in the atmosphere confirm this; But it's not. Both krypton with an atomic mass of 84 and helium with an atomic mass of 4 have the same relative concentration, which is near the surface, which is up to 100 km in height.

Occurring annually in August, this ozone hole disappeared from December to January. Unlike, for example, hydrofluorofreons, which decompose to fluorine atoms, which, in turn, quickly react with water to form stable hydrogen fluoride. The fact is that freons are well mixed in the troposphere and stratosphere. In the place of such interaction, the ozone layer is destroyed - it disappears. The ozone hole was first discovered in 1985 by a group of British scientists led by Joe Farman.

The occurrence of ozone holes in the polar regions is due to the influence of a number of factors. The concentration of ozone decreases as a result of exposure to substances of natural and anthropogenic origin, as well as due to a lack of solar radiation during the polar winter. The main anthropogenic factor causing the occurrence of ozone holes in the polar regions is due to the influence of a number of factors. The concentration of ozone decreases as a result of exposure to substances of natural and anthropogenic origin, as well as due to a lack of solar radiation during the polar winter. The main anthropogenic factor causing a decrease in ozone concentration is the release of chlorine- and bromine-containing freons. In addition, extremely low temperatures in the polar regions cause the formation of so-called polar stratospheric clouds, which, in combination with polar vortices, act as catalysts in the ozone decay reaction, that is, they simply kill ozone.

Sources of destruction

Among the depleters of the ozone layer are:

1) Freons.

Ozone is destroyed under the influence of chlorine compounds known as freons, which, also being destroyed under the influence of solar radiation, release chlorine, which “tear off” the “third” atom from the ozone molecules. Chlorine does not form compounds, but serves as a “rupture” catalyst. Thus, one chlorine atom is able to "destroy" a lot of ozone. It is believed that chlorine compounds are able to remain in the atmosphere from 50 to 1500 years (depending on the composition of the substance) of the Earth. Observations of the planet's ozone layer have been carried out by Antarctic expeditions since the mid-1950s.

The ozone hole over Antarctica, which increases in spring and decreases in autumn, was discovered in 1985. The discovery of meteorologists caused a chain of consequences of an economic nature. The fact is that the existence of a “hole” was blamed on the chemical industry, which produces substances containing freons that contribute to the destruction of ozone (from deodorants to refrigeration units). There is no consensus on the question of how much a person is guilty of the formation of “ozone holes”. On the one hand - yes, of course, guilty. The production of ozone-depleting compounds should be minimized or, better yet, stopped altogether. That is, to abandon the whole sector of industry, with a turnover of many billions of dollars. And if you do not refuse, then transfer it to a “safe” track, which also costs money.

The point of view of skeptics: human influence on atmospheric processes, for all its destructiveness on a local level, on a planetary scale is negligible. The anti-freon campaign of the “greens” has a completely transparent economic and political background: with its help, large American corporations (DuPont, for example) stifle their foreign competitors by imposing agreements on “environmental protection” at the state level and forcibly introducing a new technological revolution, which is more economically weak states are not able to withstand.

2)high-altitude aircraft

The destruction of the ozone layer is facilitated not only by freons released into the atmosphere and entering the stratosphere. Nitrogen oxides, which are formed during nuclear explosions, are also involved in the destruction of the ozone layer. But nitrogen oxides are also formed in the combustion chambers of high-altitude aircraft turbojet engines. Nitrogen oxides are formed from the nitrogen and oxygen that are there. The rate of formation of nitrogen oxides is the greater, the higher the temperature, i.e., the greater the engine power. Not only is the engine power of an aircraft important, but also the altitude at which it flies and releases ozone-destroying nitrogen oxides. The higher the oxide or nitrous oxide is formed, the more destructive it is for ozone. The total amount of nitrogen oxide released into the atmosphere per year is estimated at 1 billion tons. About a third of this amount is emitted by aircraft above the average tropopause level (11 km). As for aircraft, the most harmful emissions are military aircraft, the number of which is in the tens of thousands. They fly mainly at the heights of the ozone layer.

3) Mineral fertilizers

Ozone in the stratosphere can also decrease due to the fact that nitrous oxide N 2 O enters the stratosphere, which is formed during the denitrification of nitrogen bound by soil bacteria. The same denitrification of bound nitrogen is also carried out by microorganisms in the upper layer of the oceans and seas. The process of denitrification is directly related to the amount of bound nitrogen in the soil. Thus, one can be sure that with an increase in the amount of mineral fertilizers applied to the soil, the amount of nitrous oxide N 2 O formed will also increase to the same extent. Further, nitrogen oxides are formed from nitrous oxide, which lead to the destruction of stratospheric ozone.

4) nuclear explosions

Nuclear explosions release a lot of energy in the form of heat. A temperature equal to 6000 0 C is set within a few seconds after a nuclear explosion. This is the energy of the fireball. In a strongly heated atmosphere, such transformations of chemical substances take place, which either do not occur under normal conditions, or proceed very slowly. As for ozone, its disappearance, the most dangerous for it are the oxides of nitrogen formed during these transformations. So, during the period from 1952 to 1971, as a result of nuclear explosions, about 3 million tons of nitrogen oxides were formed in the atmosphere. Their further fate is as follows: as a result of the mixing of the atmosphere, they fall to different heights, including into the atmosphere. There they enter into chemical reactions with the participation of ozone, leading to its destruction.

5) Fuel combustion.

Nitrous oxide is also found in flue gases from power plants. Actually, the fact that nitrogen oxide and dioxide are present in combustion products has been known for a long time. But these higher oxides do not affect ozone. They, of course, pollute the atmosphere, contribute to the formation of smog in it, but are quickly removed from the troposphere. Nitrous oxide, as already mentioned, is dangerous for ozone. At low temperatures, it is formed in the following reactions:

N 2 + O + M \u003d N 2 O + M,

2NH 3 + 2O 2 \u003d N 2 O \u003d 3H 2.

The scale of this phenomenon is very significant. In this way, approximately 3 million tons of nitrous oxide are formed in the atmosphere every year! This figure indicates that it is a source of ozone destruction.

Conclusion: Sources of destruction are: freons, high-altitude aircraft, mineral fertilizers, nuclear explosions, fuel combustion.

It is no secret that our planet Earth is unique in the solar system as it is the only planet where life exists. And including the origin of life on Earth was possible thanks to a special protective ball of ozone that covers our planet at an altitude of 20-50 km. What is ozone and why is it needed? The word "ozone" itself is translated from Greek as "smelling", because it is its smell that we can feel after. Ozone is a blue gas, consisting of triatomic molecules, in fact, such an even more concentrated oxygen. The value of ozone is enormous, since it is he who protects the Earth from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays coming from the Sun. Unfortunately, we humans do not appreciate what was created by nature (or God) over billions of years, and one of the results of human destructive activity was the appearance of ozone holes, which we will talk about in today's article.

What are ozone holes?

To begin with, let's define the very concept of the "ozone hole", what it is. The fact is that many people mistakenly imagine the ozone hole as a kind of gap in the atmosphere of our planet, a place in which the ozone ball is completely absent. In fact, this is not entirely true, it is not that it is completely absent, just the concentration of ozone at the site of the ozone hole is several times lower than it should be. As a result, it is easier for ultraviolet rays to reach the surface of the planet, and to have their destructive effect precisely in the places of ozone holes.

Where are the ozone holes located?

Well, in this case, the question of the location of the ozone holes will be natural. The first ozone hole in history was discovered in 1985 over Antarctica, according to scientists, the diameter of this ozone hole was 1000 km. Moreover, this ozone hole has a very strange behavior: it appears every time in August and disappears by the beginning of winter to reappear in August.

A little later, another ozone hole, though smaller, was discovered already above the Arctic. In our time, many small ozone holes have been found in different places, but the ozone hole over Antarctica occupies the palm in size.

Photo of the ozone hole over Antarctica.

How are ozone holes formed?

The fact is that at the poles, due to the low temperature there, stratospheric clouds are formed containing ice crystals. When these clouds come into contact with molecular chlorine entering the atmosphere, a whole series of ozone molecules breaks down, reducing the amount of ozone in the atmosphere. And as a result, an ozone hole is formed.

Causes of ozone holes

What are the causes of ozone holes? There are several reasons for this phenomenon, and the most important of them is environmental pollution. Many factories, factories, flue gas thermal power plants emit into the atmosphere, including the ill-fated chlorine, and it, already entering into chemical reactions, makes a boom in the atmosphere.

Also, the appearance of ozone holes to a large extent contributed to nuclear tests conducted in the last century. During nuclear explosions, nitrogen oxides enter the atmosphere, which, entering into chemical reactions with ozone, also destroy it.

Airplanes flying in the clouds also contribute to the formation of ozone holes, since each of their flights is accompanied by the release of the same nitrogen oxide into the atmosphere, which is detrimental to our protective ozone balloon.

Consequences of ozone holes

The consequences of the expansion of the ozone holes, of course, are not the most rosy - due to increased ultraviolet radiation, the number of people with skin cancer may increase. In addition, the general immunity of a person falls, which leads to many other diseases. However, not only people can suffer from enhanced ultraviolet radiation passing through the ozone hole, but also, for example, inhabitants of the upper layers of the ocean: shrimps, crabs, algae. Why are ozone holes dangerous for them? All the same problems with immunity.

How to deal with ozone holes

The solution to the problem of ozone holes, scientists have proposed the following:

• Start regulating the release of ozone-destroying chemical elements into the atmosphere.
• Start to restore the amount of ozone by piecework in place of ozone holes. To do this in such a way, with the help of aircraft at an altitude of 12-30 km, spray piece ozone in the atmosphere. The disadvantage of this method is the need for significant economic costs, and, alas, it is impossible to spray a significant amount of ozone into the atmosphere at a time with modern technologies.

Ozone holes, video

And in conclusion, an interesting documentary about ozone holes.

Recently, newspapers and magazines are full of articles about the role of the ozone layer, in which people are intimidated by possible problems in the future. From scientists you can hear about the upcoming climate changes, which will negatively affect all life on Earth. Will a potential danger far from people really turn out to be such horrific events for all earthlings? What are the consequences of the destruction of the ozone layer for humanity?

The formation process and significance of the ozone layer

Ozone is a derivative of oxygen. While in the stratosphere, oxygen molecules are chemically attacked by ultraviolet radiation, after which they break up into free atoms, which, in turn, have the ability to combine with other molecules. With such an interaction of oxygen molecules and atoms with third bodies, a new substance is formed - this is how ozone is formed.

Being in the stratosphere, it affects the thermal regime of the Earth and the health of its population. As a planetary "guardian" ozone absorbs excess ultraviolet radiation. However, when it enters the lower atmosphere in large quantities, it becomes quite dangerous for the human species.

An unfortunate discovery of scientists - the ozone hole over Antarctica

The process of destruction of the ozone layer has been the subject of many discussions among scientists around the world since the late 1960s. In those years, environmentalists began to raise the problem of emissions of combustion products into the atmosphere in the form of water vapor and nitrogen oxides, which were produced by jet engines of rockets and airliners. There has been concern about the ozone-destroying property of nitric oxide emitted by aircraft at 25 km altitude, which is the formation area of ​​the earth's shield. In 1985, the British Antarctic Survey recorded a 40% decrease in atmospheric ozone over their base at Halley Bay.

After British scientists, this problem was covered by many other researchers. They managed to delineate an area with a low ozone content already outside the southern mainland. Because of this, the problem of the formation of ozone holes began to rise. Shortly thereafter, another ozone hole was discovered, now in the Arctic. However, it was smaller in size, with an ozone leakage of up to 9%.

According to the results of research, scientists have calculated that in 1979-1990 the concentration of this gas in the earth's atmosphere decreased by about 5%.

Destruction of the ozone layer: the appearance of ozone holes

The thickness of the ozone layer can be 3-4 mm, its maximum values ​​are at the poles, and the minimums are located along the equator. The largest concentration of gas can be found at 25 kilometers in the stratosphere over the Arctic. Dense layers sometimes occur at altitudes up to 70 km, usually in the tropics. The troposphere does not have a large amount of ozone, as it is more susceptible to seasonal changes and pollution of a different nature.

As soon as the gas concentration decreases by one percent, there is an increase in the intensity of ultraviolet light above the earth's surface by 2%. The influence of ultraviolet rays on planetary organics is compared with ionizing radiation.

The depletion of the ozone layer can cause catastrophes that will be associated with excessive heating, increased wind speeds and air circulation, which can lead to the emergence of new desert areas and reduce agricultural yields.

Encounter with ozone in everyday life

Sometimes after rain, especially in summer, the air becomes unusually fresh, pleasant, and people say that it “smells like ozone”. This is not figurative at all. In reality, some degree of ozone passes to the lower layers of the atmosphere with air mass flows. This type of gas is considered the so-called useful ozone, which brings a feeling of extraordinary freshness to the atmosphere. Basically, such phenomena are observed after thunderstorms.

However, there is also a very harmful, extremely dangerous variety of ozone for people. It is produced by exhaust gases and industrial emissions, and when exposed to the sun's rays, enters into a photochemical reaction. As a result, the so-called ground-level ozone is formed, which is extremely harmful to human health.

Substances that destroy the ozone layer: the action of freons

Scientists have proven that freons, which are massively charged with refrigerators and air conditioners, as well as numerous aerosol cans, cause the destruction of the ozone layer. Thus, it turns out that almost every person has a hand in the destruction of the ozone layer.

The causes of ozone holes are that freon molecules react with ozone molecules. Solar radiation forces freons to release chlorine. As a result, ozone splits, resulting in the formation of atomic and ordinary oxygen. In places where such interactions occur, the problem of ozone depletion occurs, and ozone holes occur.

Of course, industrial emissions bring the greatest harm to the ozone layer, but the domestic use of drugs that contain freon, one way or another, also has an impact on the destruction of ozone.

Ozone layer protection

After it was documented by scientists that the ozone layer is still being destroyed and ozone holes appear, politicians began to think about its preservation. There have been consultations and meetings around the world on these issues. They were attended by representatives of all states with a well-developed industry.

So, in 1985, the Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer was adopted. This document was signed by representatives from forty-four states participating in the conference. A year later, another important document was signed, called the Montreal Protocol. In accordance with its provisions, there should have been a significant reduction in the world production and consumption of substances that lead to the violation of the ozone layer.

However, some states were unwilling to comply with such restrictions. Then, for each state, specific quotas for hazardous emissions into the atmosphere were determined.

Protection of the ozone layer in Russia

In accordance with the current Russian legislation, the legal protection of the ozone layer is one of the most important and priority areas. Legislation related to environmental protection regulates the list of protective measures aimed at protecting this natural object from various kinds of damage, pollution, destruction and depletion. Thus, Article 56 of the Legislation describes some activities related to the protection of the planet's ozone layer:

• Organizations for monitoring the effect of the ozone hole;
• Permanent control over climate change;
• Strict observance of the regulatory framework for harmful emissions into the atmosphere;
• Regulation of the production of chemical compounds that destroy the ozone layer;
• Application of penalties and penalties for violation of the law.

Possible solutions and first results

You should know that ozone holes are a fickle phenomenon. With the reduction of the amount of harmful emissions into the atmosphere, the gradual tightening of ozone holes begins - ozone molecules from neighboring areas are activated. However, in this case, another risk factor arises - neighboring areas are deprived of a significant amount of ozone, the layers become thinner.

Scientists around the world continue to research and intimidate with bleak conclusions. They calculated that if the presence of ozone decreased by only 1% in the upper atmosphere, then there would be an increase in skin cancers up to 3-6%. Moreover, a large amount of ultraviolet rays will adversely affect the immune system of people. They will become more vulnerable to a wide variety of infections.

It is possible that this can actually explain the fact that the number of malignant tumors is increasing in the 21st century. Increasing the level of ultraviolet radiation also negatively affects nature. There is a destruction of cells in plants, the process of mutation begins, as a result of which less oxygen is produced.

Will humanity cope with the upcoming challenges?

According to the latest statistical data, humanity is facing a global catastrophe. However, science also has optimistic reports. After the adoption of the Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, all mankind has already taken up the problem of saving the ozone layer. Following the development of a number of prohibitive and precautionary measures, the situation was somewhat stabilized. Thus, some researchers argue that if all of humanity engages in industrial production within reasonable limits, the problem of ozone holes can be successfully solved.

If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.

The ozone hole is considered to be a local drop in the ozone concentration in the Earth's ozone layer. Initially, experts assumed that the concentration of ozone tends to change due to particles that are emitted during any atomic explosion.

For a long time, high-altitude aircraft and spacecraft flights were considered the culprits for the appearance of ozone holes in the Earth's atmosphere.

However, in the course of numerous studies and experiments, it has been proven that the ozone content can vary qualitatively due to certain natural air pollutants containing nitrogen.

The main reasons for the appearance of ozone holes

It has long been established that the main amount of natural ozone is contained at an altitude of 15 to 50 kilometers above the Earth's surface - in the stratosphere. Ozone brings its greatest benefit by absorbing a significant amount of ultraviolet solar radiation, which would otherwise be detrimental to living organisms on our planet. A decrease in the concentration of ozone in a certain place can be due to two types of air pollution. These include:

1. The natural processes by which air pollution occurs.
2. Anthropogenic pollution of the Earth's atmosphere.

Degassing processes are constantly carried out in the Earth's mantle, as a result of which a variety of organic compounds are released. Mud volcanoes and hydrothermal springs can generate these types of gases.

In addition, certain gases are located in the earth's crust, which are in a free state. Some of them are able to reach the earth's surface and diffuse into the atmosphere through cracks in the earth's crust. Therefore, surface air over oil and gas basins often contains elevated levels of methane. These types of pollution can be attributed to natural - occurring in connection with natural phenomena.

Anthropogenic air pollution can be caused by launches of space rockets and flights of supersonic jet aircraft. Also, a large number of various chemical compounds are released into the atmosphere during the extraction and processing of numerous minerals from the bowels of the earth.

Large industrial cities, which are a kind of anthropogenic sources, also play a significant role in atmospheric pollution. Air masses in such areas are polluted by the extensive flow of road transport, as well as due to emissions from various industrial enterprises.

The history of the discovery of ozone holes in the atmosphere

The ozone hole was first discovered in 1985 by a group of British scientists led by Joe Farman. The diameter of the hole was more than 1000 kilometers, and it was located above Antarctica - in the Southern Hemisphere. Occurring annually in August, this ozone hole disappeared from December to January.

1992 was marked for scientists by the fact that already over the Northern Hemisphere in Antarctica another ozone hole was formed, with a much smaller diameter. And in 2008, the diameter of the first ozone phenomenon discovered in Antarctica reached its maximum record size - 27 million square kilometers.

Possible consequences of expanding ozone holes

Since the ozone layer is designed to protect the surface of our planet from an excess of ultraviolet solar radiation, ozone holes can be considered a phenomenon that is really dangerous for living organisms. A decrease in the ozone layer significantly increases the flow of solar radiation, which can affect the sharp increase in the number of skin cancers. No less detrimental is the appearance of ozone holes for plants and animals on Earth.

Thanks to public attention, the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer was adopted in 1985. Then there was the so-called Montreal Protocol, adopted in 1987 and defining a list of the most dangerous chlorofluorocarbons. At the same time, the producing countries of these atmospheric pollutants pledged to limit their release, and by the year 2000 to stop completely.

Hypotheses about the natural origin of the ozone hole

But Russian scientists have published confirmation of the hypothesis about the natural origin of the Antarctic ozone hole. In 1999, NPO Typhoon published a scientific work at Moscow State University, in which, according to the calculations of geophysicists A.P. Kapitsa and A.A. Gavrilov, the Antarctic ozone hole existed before it was discovered by direct experimental methods in 1982, which, according to Russian scientists, confirms the hypothesis of the natural origin of the ozone hole over Antarctica.

The authors of this scientific work were A.P. Kapitsa (corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences) b A.A. Gavrilov (Moscow State University). The two scientists managed to establish that the number of facts contradicting the anthropogenic hypothesis of the origin of the Antarctic ozone hole is constantly growing, and after proving that the data on abnormally low values ​​of the total ozone in Antarctica in 1957-1959 are correct, it became clear that the cause of the ozone holes is different. from anthropogenic.

The results of research by Kapitsa and Gavrilov were published in Doklady Akademii Nauk, 1999, vol. 366, no. 4, p. 543-546