Ozone Hole Shrinking, Catastrophic Flooding in Spain, and University Climate Efforts

Antarctic Ozone Hole is Shrinking

Scientists with NASA and NOAA say the ozone layer could fully recover by 2066. The hole that opens annually in the ozone later over Earth’s souther pole was relatively small in 2024 compared to previous years. During the peak of the ozone depletion season between September 7 and October 13, 2024, the ozone hole ranked the 7th smallest since recovery began in 1992. The improvement is due to a combination of continuing declines in harmful chlorofluorocarbon chemicals and an unexpected infusion of ozone carried by air currents from north of the Antarctic. The ozone-rich layer high in the atmosphere helps shield us from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. When ozone is depleted, more UV radiation is allowed through, and cases of skin cancer and cataracts rise.

James R. Riordon, Phys.org

Spain’s Record Flooding Blamed on Climate Change

Last week, a year’s worth of rain fell in eight hours in parts of Valencia, Spain. The intense rain was attributed to the “cold drop” phenomenon, which occurs when cold air moves over the warm waters of the Mediterranean, creating atmospheric instability that causes warm, saturated air to rise rapidly, leading to heavy rain and thunderstorms. Scientists say the human-driven climate crisis has increased the length, frequency, and intensity of extreme weather events like this. When the Mediterranean warms, water evaporation increases, and that plays a key role in making torrential rains more severe. More than 50 miles of roads were badly damaged or impassable due to the flood. Unfortunately, the death toll has risen to more than 150 as emergency service workers and more than 1,200 troops continue to comb through the mud and debris.

Jon Henley and Sam Jones, The Guardian

Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth Established

The University of Chicago recently launched the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth, an ambitious effort combining research in economics and climate policy, energy and climate technologies, and education. They plan to hire 20 new faculty members in the next five years in order to bring a wide range of insights to try and tackle these issues. The Institute will focus on driving major advancements in energy storage technologies and produce new ways of thinking about open-systems carbon removal, solar geoengineering, and local interventions to prevent glacial melting. The University will also add a series of new degree programs at undergraduate and master’s levels to expose students to the foundational ideas, tradeoffs, and complexities of the global climate and sustainable growth.

Vicki Ekstrom High, The University of Chicago