Re:Damned if you do..... (Score 1)

Stratospheric ozone is created in the upper stratosphere by ultraviolet. There is no lightning production of ozone in the stratosphere. The extremely cold stratospheric temperatures at an altitude of 20 km above the surface are part of the problem. Very tenuous clouds, called polar stratospheric clouds, form in the stratosphere during winter. Chemical reactions occur on the surfaces of the cloud particles to release chlorine into a form that leads to rapid ozone destruction. During 2006, the temperatures were much colder than average, making the ozone losses worse over Antarctica this year. it's important to recall that the cold temperatures would not do anything if chlorine and bromine levels were at their natural levels. Unfortunately, chlorine and bromine released from CFCs and halons are at very high levels right now, and will continue at high levels for at least another decade. Fortunately, production has been regulated and the ozone hole will probably be gone by about 2065. Greenhouse gases will actually cool the stratosphere. Hence, climate change will possibly make the problem worse over Antarctica. This cooling will probably not overwhelm the decreases of CFCs that will be seen in the coming decades.