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Destruction of ozone in the stratosphere over the Arctic and northern
Europe this winter could be as catastrophic as it has been over Antarctica
– if climate conditions are right.

The UK Stratospheric Ozone Review Group, reporting to the government
last week, warned that last winter the concentrations of chlorine monoxide,
the chemical that triggers massive thinning of the ozone layer, ‘were on
occasions larger than those found over Antarctica’. As over Antarctica,
the presence of chlorine monoxide has caused ozone thinning over Europe
when it is ‘associated with strong and persistent anticyclones in the lower
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The authors of the report conclude that chlorine monoxide pollution
over northern Europe (caused by industrial emissions of chlorine compounds
such as CFCs) has the potential to cause as much ozone destruction over
northern Europe as over Antarctica, where ozone destruction was worse than
ever during the last southern hemisphere spring.