Rising greenhouse-gas emissions could not only lead to climate change, but also boost stratospheric ozone outside the tropics beyond historic levels, according to scientists in the US and the UK.
A study that explored the prospects for stratospheric ozone under different greenhouse-gas emissions scenarios found that the continued emission of carbon dioxide could over-compensate for lost stratospheric ozone towards the end of this century, leading to less transmission of ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
The consequences are unknown, but could affect ecosystems and levels of vitamin D uptake in humans, the scientists say.
“Stratospheric ozone depletion is generally considered to pose more problems than benefits for human health,” said Amy Butler of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “But having higher stratospheric ozone levels than historically experienced also has implications for surface UV.” […]
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