Ozone Hole Is Slowly Healing臭氧空洞正在慢慢愈合

Earths protective ozone layer is slowly but noticeably healing at a pace that will fully mend the hole over Antarctic in about 43 years， a new United Nations Environment Programme report says.

The ozone layer， a blanket of gas that exists between 10km and 50km above Earths surface， shields the planet from the suns powerful ultraviolet radiation which is linked to skin cancer， cataracts and crop damage.

“In the upper stratosphere and in the ozone hole we see things getting better，” said Paul Newman， co-chair of the scientific assessment.

联合国环境规划署的一份新的报告称，地球的保护性臭氧层正在缓慢但明显地愈合，以其速度，南极洲上空空洞的修复将在大约43年内完成。

臭氧层是存在于距地球表面10千米到50千米之间的大气层，它保护地球免受太阳强烈的紫外线辐射的伤害，这种辐射与患皮肤癌、白内障，以及农作物损害有关。

“在平流层上层和臭氧层空洞中，我们看到情况正在好转。”科学评估联合主席保罗·纽曼说。

The progress is slow， according to the report， presented at the American Meteorological Society convention on January 9， 2023.

The global average amount of ozone 30km high in the atmosphere wont be back to 1980 pre-thinning levels until about 2040， the report said. And it wont be back to normal in the Arctic until 2045.

In Antarctic， where the ozone is so thin， theres an annual giant gaping hole， it wont be fully fixed until 2066， the report said.

The global effort to heal the ozone hole came out of a 1987 agreement called the Montreal Protocol that banned a class of chemicals often used in refrigerants and aerosols.

Scientists and environmental advocates across the world have long hailed the Montreal Protocol as one of the biggest ecological victories for humanity.

The secretary-general of the World Meteorological Organisation， Professor Petteri Taalas， said the healing of the ozone layer showed what could be achieved when the world worked together for the good of the planet.

“Ozone action sets a precedent for climate action，” Professor Taalas said.

根据2023年1月9日在美国气象学会大会上发表的报告，臭氧层愈合的速度缓慢。

报告称，大气中30千米高处的全球平均臭氧量要到2040年左右才能恢复到1980年變薄前的水平。北极要到2045年才能恢复正常。

报告称，南极洲的臭氧非常稀薄，每年都会出现一个巨大的空洞。南极洲的臭氧层空洞要到2066年才能完全修复。

全球修复臭氧层空洞的努力源于1987年签署的《蒙特利尔议定书》，该议定书禁止使用一类常用于制冷剂和气雾剂的化学物质。

长期以来，世界各地的科学家和环保倡导者一直称赞《蒙特利尔议定书》是人类在生态方面取得的最大胜利之一。

世界气象组织秘书长佩蒂瑞·塔拉斯教授说，臭氧层的愈合表明，当世界各国为了地球的利益而共同努力时，可以取得什么成就。

“保护臭氧行动为气候行动开创了先例。”塔拉斯教授说。

Mr Newman， chief earth scientist at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center， said the two main chemicals that munch away at the ozone layer—chlorine and bromine—were now in lower levels in the atmosphere.

Mr Newman said the fact chlorine and bromine levels had stopped growing and were now coming down was “a real testament to the effectiveness of the Montreal Protocol”.

Natural weather patterns in the Antarctic also affect the size of the ozone hole， which peaks in autumn. Weather patterns have caused the hole to be a bit bigger over the past couple of years， but Mr Newman said overall the trend was one of healing.

UN Environment Program director Inger Andersen has previously said the healing of the ozone hole was “saving two million people every year from skin cancer”.

紐曼是美国宇航局戈达德太空飞行中心的首席地球科学家，他说，破坏臭氧层的两种主要化学物质——氯和溴——目前在大气中的含量较低。

纽曼表示，氯和溴的含量已经停止增长，现在正在下降，这是“《蒙特利尔议定书》有效性的切实证明”。

南极洲的自然气候模式也会影响臭氧空洞的大小，臭氧空洞在秋季达到峰值。在过去的几年里，气候模式导致这个洞变大了一些，但纽曼先生说，总的来说，这是一个愈合的趋势。

联合国环境规划署执行主任英格尔·安德森此前曾表示，臭氧空洞的愈合“每年使200万人免于皮肤癌”。

Word Bank

hail /he?l/ v. 赞扬；称颂

He is being hailed a hero for saving a young child from drowning.

set a precedent 开先例

testament /'test?m?nt/ n. 证明；证据

For him to win the game like that is a testament to his strong will.

effectiveness /?'fekt?vn?s/ n. 有效性；效力