Slashdot Mirror
Sun Storms Deplete Ozone, Too
An anonymous reader writes "Turns out the sun itself zaps the ozone that protects us from the sun. LiveScience is reporting that the record-setting string of solar storms around Halloween in 2003 (including an X28 flare) set off a cascade of events that depleted the ozone layer over the Arctic in early 2004. In a nutshell, more nitrogen was created, and an unusually strong vortex of high-speed winds aloft brought the nitrogen down, where it contributed to cutting ozone by 60 percent over the polar region. In January, the a European scientist warned residents of the far north to basically stay out of the sun. While chlorofluorocarbons are still blamed for ozone depletion, scientists said this study shows they don't properly account for the sun's impact."
In January, the a European scientist /. high-school edition come out?
The past couple of days have seen some sloppy copy come through. When does the
Mongrel News all the news that fits and froths
Testing to see if something depletes ozone can be done in a lab. It's really not speculation to say that CFCs destroy ozone.
A lab is a very controlled environment. There is a very, very big difference between a lab and the planet. It's like a petri dish with a purified cell culture vs the human body. Yes, CFCs destroy ozone, but that does not mean that CFCs cause global warming.
but what depletes the Slurpee machine at 7-11? This is far more crucial research that needs doing...
I say, alchemy anyone?
I always find it interesting when "Group X, Y, or Z" puts out media releases about the "The Sky Is Falling" - in regards to one thing or another. It's all about creating fear - in regards to one thing or another. Why? Money! Create enough fear and the money starts to roll in - first from donations - then grants from tax money. And when the donations and/or grants start to dry up - another flury of media releases about "The Sky Is Even Falling More". Unfortunately the media just repeat the lastest the media release on X,Y or Z without any investigative reporting on the issue. If they spent three seconds thinking about it - the media would realize that it would be unlikely that any one "thing" could cause (lets assume that these "things" are even happening) - for example "Global Warming", or "Climate Change" or "Ozone Depletion". There is a notion that while "we" pay attention (and money) to these "Sky Is Falling Notions" - "we" miss the real issues/dangers - like being hit by an asteroid. Which apparantly has a high probability. Of course so-called "environmentalists" don't know squat about dealing with asteroids - therefore don't put about media releases about that issue - because they can't get donations or grants for that issue. It's good to see some of the people in white coats coming out with more info to destroy this notion of one "thing" causing anything. Oh I forgot the earth is the centre of the Universe. ;^)