why is there a hole in the earths atmosphere layer?

Answer 1

if you mean the depletion or hole in the ozone layer then go thru what I found in wikipedia

The Antarctic ozone hole is an area of the Antarctic stratosphere in which the recent ozone levels have dropped to as low as 33% of their pre-1975 values. The ozone hole occurs during the Antarctic spring, from September to early December, as strong westerly winds start to circulate around the continent and create an atmospheric container. Within this "polar vortex", over 50% of the lower stratospheric ozone is destroyed during the antarctic spring.[8]

As explained above, the overall cause of ozone depletion is the presence of chlorine-containing source gases (primarily CFCs and related halocarbons). In the presence of UV light, these gases dissociate, releasing chlorine atoms, which then go on to catalyze ozone destruction. The Cl-catalyzed ozone depletion can take place in the gas phase, but it is dramatically enhanced in the presence of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs).[9]

These polar stratospheric clouds form during winter, in the extreme cold. Polar winters are dark, consisting of 3 months without solar radiation (sunlight). Not only lack of sunlight contributes to a decrease in temperature but also the “polar vortex” traps and chills air. Temperatures hover around or below -80 °C. These low temperatures form cloud particles and are composed of either nitric acid (Type I PSC) or ice (Type II PSC). Both types provide surfaces for chemical reactions that lead to ozone destruction.

The photochemical processes involved are complex but well understood. The key observation is that, ordinarily, most of the chlorine in the stratosphere resides in stable "reservoir" compounds, primarily hydrogen chloride (HCl) and chlorine nitrate (ClONO2). During the Antarctic winter and spring, however, reactions on the surface of the polar stratospheric cloud particles convert these "reservoir" compounds into reactive free radicals (Cl and ClO). The clouds can also remove NO2 from the atmosphere by converting it to nitric acid, which prevents the newly formed ClO from being converted back into ClONO2.

The role of sunlight in ozone depletion is the reason why the Antarctic ozone depletion is greatest during spring. During winter, even though PSCs are at their most abundant, there is no light over the pole to drive the chemical reactions. During the spring, however, the sun comes out, providing energy to drive photochemical reactions, and melt the polar stratospheric clouds, releasing the trapped compounds.

Most of the ozone that is destroyed is in the lower stratosphere, in contrast to the much smaller ozone depletion through homogeneous gas phase reactions, which occurs primarily in the upper stratosphere.

Warming temperatures near the end of spring break up the vortex around mid-December. As warm, ozone-rich air flows in from lower latitudes, the PSCs are destroyed, the ozone depletion process shuts down, and the ozone hole heals.

For more info about this subject click on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone_depletion

Answer 2

Where you are thinking of a hole, isn't exactly what you think. There is atmosphere all the way around earth, but the atmosphere is a series of layers - like the layers inside the earth, or like a jawbreaker. These layers form a 'sea' of air that is about the same thickness all the way around the earth, but different types of air are in different layers - that is related to different temperatures of the air and the way the particles of air themselves act.

When people talk about 'holes' in the ozone layer, there is not a massive hole right out to space where there is no air, but instead the layer of a certain and important type of air (that absorbs radiation and certain kinds of sunlight) is thinner or missing. This type of air (ozone) reacts with certain chemicals and disappears faster then it's normally made.

The best way to think of these holes would be a hurricane, where there is a hole (the eye) in the cloud cover. There isn't a big hole right up to space, but just one of the many layers - in a hurricane it's the clouds - has an open spot in it.

These holes are usually over the South Pole because the air gets 'stuck' there for long periods of time each year, and it doesn't mix up and replenish like it normally would.

Back in the 80's, we found that certain types of chemicals (CFC's - chloroflorocarbons) that were used as propellant in spray bottles and for refrigerant in air conditioners and fridges rose through the air and ate up the ozone in these layers. We have mostly stopped using these chemicals and the ozone is partially healing, but still has problems.

Answer 3

There is no hole, and never has been.

The ozone hole referred to an area over the poles that came to have lower than normal ozone as a result of the action of chloro- fluoro-carbons.

However, this ozone is spread through an atmospheric layer over 10 km thick, and the hole does not mean the material is gone - it simply exists as O2 rather than O3. No matter went missing.

Answer 4

Hai.

There is a hole in our atmosphere because the harmful green house gases from industries and vehicle.These gases react and eat away the atmosphere.

Answer 5

There's no hole in the atmosphere. There was an area of depleted ozone but it's filling back in. It was over Antarctica.

Answer 6

Isnt that the greenhouse effect? I think its from the use of things like aerosols, gases, toxic wastes, etc