Ozone Layer

The vapour reached heights of up to 55 kilometres and depleted 5 percent of the ozone layer over the tropical south-western Pacific and Indian Ocean regions in one week.

Increased humidity in the stratosphere led to a series of interactions between other components shot out from the volcano that ultimately broke down the layer over those regions, the authors say.

Ms. Susan Liavaá from the NOU clarified that the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer was established in 1987 and ratified by Tonga in July 1998.  

As a member of the party, she echoed Tonga’s obligations under the Montreal Protocol such as following the phase out schedule of Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC), specifically R-22 the most common type of HCFC imported to the Kingdom.