Beijing: Chinese researchers have revealed that increases in methane emissions could have an unexpected positive impact on future ozone recovery, shedding new light on climate governance.
According to Qatar News Agency, the study led by researchers from Beijing Normal University emphasizes the role of the ozone layer as Earth’s protective shield against harmful ultraviolet radiation. While international efforts have successfully curbed some ozone-depleting substances, the future recovery of the ozone layer is clouded by uncertainties from global warming and human activities.
The research underscores methane’s dual role in ozone recovery. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, contributes to global warming but also participates in complex atmospheric chemical reactions beneficial to stratospheric ozone recovery, as explained by Xie Fei, a professor at Beijing Normal University.
“Just as ozone can be harmful at ground level but beneficial in the stratosphere, methane and other ozone precursors exhibit similar dual characteristics,” Xie noted, adding, “understanding these dual effects is critical for predicting future ozone recovery and its implications for climate.” The research team conducted experiments to analyze the impacts of methane, carbon dioxide, and sea surface temperature on stratospheric ozone under the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 scenario in 2050. The RCP 8.5 scenario is a future climate pathway that assumes high greenhouse gas emissions and limited climate mitigation efforts, leading to significant global warming by the end of the century.
The results revealed that rising methane emissions could have a particularly strong positive impact on ozone recovery in both the Arctic and Antarctic regions.
“Our ultimate goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of ozone recovery pathways and their broader implications,” said Xie, adding that they will further refine their models to account for additional factors influencing ozone recovery.
“This will help policymakers and scientists make better decisions to address both ozone layer restoration and climate change,” he added.