"Antarctica is Heating Up"... Tropospheric Ozone Raising Antarctic Ocean Temperature

Published 23 Apr.2022 17:46(KST)

Updated 23 Apr.2022 18:12(KST)

Dr. Ryu Wei: "Reducing Tropospheric Ozone Will Have Dual Effect of Lowering Antarctic Ocean Temperature Rise"

The photo is not related to any specific expression in the article. [Image source=Pixabay]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Nayeon] Ozone (O₃), composed of three oxygen atoms, forms the ozone layer in the stratosphere, which absorbs harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun, serving a beneficial function for the human body. However, near the ground in the troposphere, it acts as an air pollutant that damages the respiratory system.

Since the 1950s, ozone in the atmosphere has shown a trend of decreasing in the stratosphere, creating holes, while increasing in the troposphere. It has been found that tropospheric ozone significantly raises the temperature of the Southern Ocean, which plays a major cooling role for the Earth.

According to the University of California, Riverside, an international research team led by Assistant Professor Ryu Wei of the university’s Climate Change Department published new research results in the scientific journal Nature Climate Change, highlighting that the greenhouse gas effect of tropospheric ozone is much greater than previously thought.

Dr. Ryu Wei stated, "We had not paid much attention to tropospheric ozone in relation to ocean heat absorption, but considering the results of this study, it is an area that deserves attention."

The research team pointed out that tropospheric ozone is formed through photochemical reactions involving volatile organic compounds (VOC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) contained in automobile exhaust gases. They emphasized that, just as international agreements have reduced chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which deplete the ozone layer, thereby restoring the damaged ozone layer, tropospheric ozone can also be reduced.

Dr. Ryu Wei said, "Tropospheric ozone is an air pollutant, but if it is reduced, it will have a dual effect of decreasing air pollution and reducing the temperature rise of the Southern Ocean."