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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Environment
Donna Lu

Smoke from Australian bushfires depleted ozone layer by up to 5% in 2020, study finds

United States Susan Solomon Australia Antarctic Earth Nature
Australian bushfire 2020
A study published in Nature has found smoke from the 2019-20 Australian bushfires temporarily depleted the ozone layer by 3% to 5% in 2020. Photograph: Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images

Particles in bushfire smoke can activate molecules that destroy the ozone layer, according to new research that suggests future ozone recovery may be delayed by increasingly intense and frequent fires.

A study published in the journal Nature has found that smoke from the 2019-20 Australian bushfires temporarily depleted the ozone layer by 3% to 5% in 2020.

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