Did NASA invent an ozone hole above Kennebunkbort in 1992 to get Clinton elected?

Question

A certain global warming denier has made this claim. Here is the NY Times news story about it:

"Two weeks ago, detectors aboard a converted spy plane flying over New England and eastern Canada recorded the highest level of chlorine monoxide, an ozone-destroying chemical, ever measured anywhere around the globe. The level was half again as large as the amount recorded over Antarctica, the site of the infamous ozone hole discovered in October 1985.

The team of scientists who reported these findings in Washington on Monday could not predict when an ozone hole might open above North America. But they said that the level of ozone-thinning "precursors" -- chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's)...might soon expose large parts of the globe to increased cancer-causing ultraviolet rays from the sun.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CEFD61E3EF936A35751C0A964958260

Was NASA and/or their instruments lying to elect Clinton? Or did our CFC reductions simply avoid this scenario?

The theory is that NASA would get more funding under Clinton than Bush Sr., so they made this hoax to try and get him elected.

Answer 1

what republican told you that. Did you hear it on FOX news. The very idea of it is stupid. I have a masters in environmental engineering and I often work with NASA on many projects that include using satellite imagery and I assure you that no one made that up to get Clinton elected. It is a problem that effects every aspect of humanity and is in no way related to politics.

Answer 2

Do you understand what the biggest source of ozone depletion that has actually been measured is?

If you will look at the data you will notice that ozone minimum drops by 80 Dobson units from 1982 - 1986. And from 1992 - 1995 it drops another 40 Dobson units. Surely you do not believe these steps are from large releases of CFC's.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Min_ozone.jpg

It is caused by the 1982 El-Chichon eruption and the 1991 Pinatubo eruption. Or Sulfur Dioxide, which gets converted to Sulfuric Acid in the stratosphere, which happens to be a primary source of Ozone depletion.

http://denali.gsfc.nasa.gov/research/so2/article.html

Answer 3

If you truly want to know what the "ozone Layer" (a total misnomer = it's the measurement of total ozone in different layers) is actually doing: Go to:
http://toms.gsfc.nasa.gov/eptoms/dataqual/ozone.html
I sure looks like it is TOTALLY SEASONABLE = less ozone in layers when there is NO/VERY LITTLE SUN.
Quotes from: http://www.nas.nasa.gov/About/Education/Ozone/ozonelayer.html
4. Sunspot cycle: ozone is created by solar UV radiation. The amount of UV radiation produced by the sun is not constant but varies by several percent in a roughly 11 year cycle. This 11 year cycle is related to magnetic changes within the sun which increase the solar UV output, and is heralded by an increase sunspots which appear on the surface of the sun. Comparisons of yearly ozone concentrations show a small 11 year variation in global ozone of about 2%. Episodes of unusual solar activity, solar storms and large solar flares, could certainly alter this value. "

When the SUN returns to the South Pole UV CREATES OZONE.
Note the Influence of the SUN's activity (Sun Spots, etc.) on Ozone = which applies to earth climate also.

Answer 4

Its pretty unlikely for NASA to invent an ozone hole or had anything to do with Clinton's election.

Answer 5

Best answer is Rick's. He has it right. The only thing I would add is that Mt Pinatubo erupted in 1991 and blew a lot of chlorine into the air. It could be that a heavy concentration from that eruption was over Maine in 1992. Mt Pinatubo's eruption was known to affect weather patterns for about five years after.

Answer 6

I am not aware of US Politics. well regarding more funding to NASA during Clinton gov. than Bush could be that Clinton likes more findings than bush but relating with election is meaningless. I hate such action.

Answer 7

Sure, and they put solar heaters on Mars to keep Bush in office.

Come on, think about it, what is directly up wind of the East coast ... I'll give you a hint, it has something to do with burning a lot of COAL!

Answer 8

Well, the idea seems pretty stupid but I'm sure there are some anti-Democrat freaks who would love to have a conspiracy theory to try and get votes.

Answer 9

I'll hold my hands up on this one and proudly admit that I haven't clue. Perhaps more of us should do the same instead of spreading misinformation.
It sounds incredible though so I doubt it.

Answer 10

Funny. I'll bet you can't find one article about this ozone hole after november 4th. Somehow this just wasn't important anymore, or just didn't exist anymore after the election.