‘Largest-ever ozone layer’ hole above the Arctic finally closes

Copernicus, the European satellite network, has found that the largest breach in the Arctic ozone layer has now closed.

Scientists found a hole emerging in the layer earlier in March, and hypothesized it as a result of falling temperatures on the north pole.

The unprecedented 2020 northern hemisphere #OzoneHole has come to an end. The #PolarVortex split, allowing #ozone-rich air into the Arctic, closely matching last week's forecast from the #CopernicusAtmosphere Monitoring Service.

More on the NH Ozone hole➡️https://t.co/Nf6AfjaYRi pic.twitter.com/qVPu70ycn4

— Copernicus ECMWF (@CopernicusECMWF) April 23, 2020

The ozone layer protects the Earth from the ultraviolet rays of the sun which are a significant cause of skin cancer. If it had spread into more populated areas, the hole may have posed a threat to humans.

However, on April 23 Copernicus discovered the hole had closed itself. This did not happen due to the low rates of contamination due to the worldwide coronavirus lockdown, according to scientists.

It was on the polar pole, instead. These are the high altitude currents which bring cold air to the polar area. The vertex has split and weakened in recent days leaving warm air in.

2011 saw the first ozone hole in the North Pole.