Spanish scientists announced the reduction of the stratosphere of the Earth
A study by the University of Vigo (Spain) demonstrated how greenhouse gas emissions affect the Earth's atmosphere. According to him, human activity leads to a reduction in the stratosphere, reports Environmental Research Letters.
The stratosphere is located at an altitude of 10-50 kilometers above sea level. Scientists have found that since the 1980s, this layer has shrunk by about 400 meters, and in 2080, if nothing changes, it will decrease by another kilometer. These changes may affect satellites, GPS navigation and radio communications.
The stratosphere is located above the troposphere – the lower region of the atmosphere. The troposphere is saturated with carbon dioxide, which heats and expands the air. As a result, the lower boundary of the stratosphere “creeps” upward. In addition, there is another factor. CO2 entering the stratosphere actually cools the air, causing it to contract.
The shrinking stratosphere is a clear signal of a climate emergency and demonstrates the global human influence on the planet, scientists said.
“This proves that we are touching the atmosphere at a distance of up to 60 kilometers,” – said the author of the scientific work Juan Agniel.
Scientists already knew that the troposphere grows in height as carbon emissions rise. But information about the shrinking of the stratosphere was proved by them for the first time.
Experts suggested that this phenomenon could be associated with ozone losses (the ozone layer is located in this area). But new data have shown that CO2 emissions are the main cause. In recent decades, after the ban of a number of chemicals, the level of ozone in the atmosphere began to rise, but the contraction of the stratosphere did not stop.
Scientists noted that it is necessary to study this area of the atmosphere more closely. Earlier, UN experts predicted an ecological catastrophe for the world. The temperature on the planet has risen to a record high in the past three million years.
