
Good News: Healing Ozone Hole Could Restore Ocean’s Carbon Absorption
LONDON (ANI) – Researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA) have found that the damage caused by the ozone hole to the Southern Ocean’s ability to absorb carbon can be reversed—but only if greenhouse gas emissions are sharply reduced.
The Southern Ocean plays an outsized role in the global climate system, absorbing vast amounts of atmospheric carbon. But its capacity to do so has been weakened in recent decades due to stronger winds driven by ozone depletion. These winds stir up deep, carbon-rich waters, reducing the ocean’s ability to soak up additional carbon from the air.
Now, as the ozone layer recovers thanks to the 1987 Montreal Protocol, scientists say this damaging trend could be reversed. However, continued increases in greenhouse gases may reignite the problem by intensifying wind patterns once again.
“Our study shows that the Southern Ocean’s recovery is possible,” said Dr. Tereza Jarnikova, lead author and researcher at UEA’s Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research. “But only if we keep greenhouse gas emissions low.”
Using advanced computer models, the team simulated various scenarios combining ozone recovery and different levels of greenhouse gas emissions from 1950 to 2100. The results show that while the influence of the ozone hole is fading, emissions will increasingly determine how much carbon the ocean can absorb in the future.
The study, published in Science Advances, underscores a key message: cutting emissions is essential not just to reduce warming, but also to restore vital natural systems that help keep the climate in balance.