TAS: Mixed news still good news for ozone hole

AAP General News (Australia)
12-05-2000
TAS: Mixed news still good news for ozone hole

HOBART, Dec 5 AAP - Despite mixed news about the giant hole in the Antarctic ozone
layer this spring, Australian scientists are confident it will disappear in about 50 years.

This is provided the international agreement on phasing out ozone-depleting chemicals
is adhered to, CSIRO Atmospheric Research communications manager Paul Holper said today.

Mr Holper said observations from a weather station at Cape Grim in northwest Tasmania,
reported to a conference today at the CSIRO in Aspendale, Victoria, provided ambiguous
news about the hole.

The station at Cape Grim, which reputedly has the cleanest air in Australia, is jointly
run by the CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology to study global atmospheric conditions.

Mr Holper said the bad news was that the hole was the largest on record. But the good
news was that it started breaking up about three weeks earlier than last year.

The hole appears in early spring and breaks up in late spring.

Mr Holper said there was no doubt that the hole was caused by the release of chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs) and halons, volatile chemicals, used as refrigerants and fire retardants.

Under the 1987 Montreal Protocol, developed countries have honoured their commitment
to phase out the chemicals.

However developing countries - with China and the former Soviet Union the main users
- have until 2010 to phase them out.

Mr Holper said there was no doubt that the CFCs and halons caused the hole and the
atmosphere would naturally heal itself once they were removed.

He said its size should start reducing significantly after 2010 and, taking into account
a recovery retarded by global warming, should disappear by about 2050.

AAP dw/gmw

KEYWORD: OZONE

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.