 |
|
|
"If the climate isn't stabilized, the ozone hole will never close" |
|
By Sandra Guijarro Vilela*
Scientist Bedrich Magas lives in Punta Arenas, in southern Chile, where the thinning of the ozone layer is a dangerous reality. From his office there, he warns that this is a serious problem that could worsen as a result of the greenhouse effect.
PUNTA ARENAS, Chile - For many, the hole in
the Earth's stratospheric ozone layer is solely the result of emissions
of volatile chemicals from human activities, particularly the famous
chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, used in refrigerators and aerosols.
But not according to Bedrich Magas.
From his office at the Engineering School at the University of Magallanes,
in Punta Arenas, 2,000 km south of Santiago, this Chilean scientist
of Croatian origin says climate change - caused by the carbon dioxide
emissions from the burning of fossil fuels - also hurts the ozone
layer. And if the climate is not stabilized, he warns, "we run the
risk of reaching a point of no return in which the hole will never
close."
Magas is one of the world's leading experts on the process of the
thinning of the ozone layer, commonly described as a hole, over
Antarctica. His opinions and studies have been an important point
of reference on the matter for scientists and politicians worldwide.
"Today it is essential to stabilize the climate through aggressive
and immediate action. The reduction of the ozone layer means a significant
rise in ultraviolet radiation, which has a direct impact on the
production of food and heightens the risk of new bacteria that we
are not accustomed to," he says in an exclusive dialogue with Tierramérica,
speaking from his office in Chile's extreme south.
- TIERRAMERICA: How does climate change affect the ozone hole?
- MAGAS: The destruction of ozone in the stratosphere is due to
the catalytic action of the chlorofluorocarbons, but also to a greater
abundance of stratospheric ice clouds, which arise from the cooling
of the upper layers of the atmosphere, part of the greenhouse effect.
As a result, until the climate is stabilized with respect to the
greenhouse effect, we run the risk of reaching the point of no return
in which the ozone hole will never close.
- How can we halt the thinning of the ozone layer?
- We must eliminate the emissions of chloride compounds and halt
global warming (by reducing the emissions of so-called greenhouse
gases, which largely come from the burning of fossil fuels by industry
and automobiles). But without the political will to control climate
change, the stratosphere will continue to cool, with the risk that
ozone holes could appear over more populous regions. The concentration
of chlorine is high at all latitudes and it is only a matter of
time before the ice clouds begin to form in other locations.
- They say that the ozone hole over Antarctica this year is smaller
than it was during the 2000 cycle. Is that true?
- False. The phenomenon is lasting a longer time, meaning the volume
of ozone destroyed this year sets a historic record, and continues
to worsen, regardless of what they say.
- A great deal is said about the negative effects of ultraviolet
(UV) radiation on human skin. But does it cause other problems?
- More UV radiation is reaching the planet, energy that is capable
of separating proteins, of breaking DNA chains, generating new viruses
or mutations. If there is a change in the light, the photosynthesis
process is modified, disturbing all green ecosystems. Also, the
human immune response system is lessened because, in the long term,
UV radiation inhibits and blocks the functioning of cells that alert
the immune system when an infection exists.
- How do such mutations occur?
- The UV rays are capable of altering genes, and thus modifying
organisms. A mutation is consolidated in three or more generations.
Human generations are decades long, but bacteria can consolidate
changes within a short time because of their short life cycles.
I don't care what others say, but all of these new colds and strange
illnesses are very likely the consequence of some alteration in
the DNA of the viruses.
- It was said that in Punta Arenas the sheep were going blind
due to UV radiation, but then it was found that they had some sort
of eye infection.
- Nothing was proven definitively. If the animals have low defenses
due to UV radiation, for example, and there are microorganisms present,
like the bovine keratoconjunctivitis bacteria, then the bacteria
takes advantage of the situation. They did not make the necessary
correlations.
- How does UV radiation affect food production?
- Small changes in UV radiation drastically reduce the yields of
rice and other paddy crops. Photobiologists have documented major
reductions in Antarctic phytoplankton populations, and several years
ago, the University of Maryland conducted a study with soy: 40 percent
more radiation reduced production by 20 percent. Even without genetic
mutations, burns or skin cancer, there is a danger of reduced production
of food.
- There are some who consider you an "eco-terrorist". How do
you feel about that description?
- In 1987, people said I was crazy, but I must be cured because
now they are saying I was right. Once you explain that if we compressed
all the ozone that there is between sea level and infinity, it does
not measure more than 3.2 mm, and that this is what we must save
to protect ourselves from becoming extinct, then they don't think
you're so crazy.
* Journalist Sandra Guijarro Vilela is a Tierramérica contributor.
|
