The ozone layer over the Antarctic region has significantly decreased, thinning by 16% compared to the previous year. Currently, the thickness of this ozone layer has reduced to just one-third of what it was before the degradation began. This reduction in the ozone layer is having a severe impact on the Antarctic ecosystem.
Specifically, as the ozone layer thins, more harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation reaches the Earth's surface, causing a 5% reduction in plankton, the foundation of the Antarctic marine ecosystem. This decrease has also led to a 6% to 9% reduction in krill, the main food source for whales. The collapse of these food chains is putting many marine species, including whales, at risk of survival.
In particular, the increase in UV radiation due to ozone layer depletion has a cascading effect throughout the Antarctic ecosystem, potentially leading to the extinction of whales. If the current rate of ozone layer depletion continues, there is a warning that Antarctic whales could face extinction as early as the 21st century.
This situation highlights the critical importance of protecting the ozone layer. It is essential that the international community cooperates to urgently implement measures to protect and restore the ozone layer. In addition to halting the depletion of the ozone layer, efforts must also be made to restore the ecosystems that have already been damaged.
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