<P> As explained above, the primary 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). </P> <P> These polar stratospheric clouds (PSC) form during winter, in the extreme cold . Polar winters are dark, consisting of 3 months without solar radiation (sunlight). The lack of sunlight contributes to a decrease in temperature and the polar vortex traps and chills air . Temperatures hover around or below − 80 ° C. These low temperatures form cloud particles . There are three types of PSC clouds--nitric acid trihydrate clouds, slowly cooling water - ice clouds, and rapid cooling water - ice (nacerous) clouds--provide surfaces for chemical reactions whose products will, in the spring lead to ozone destruction . </P> <P> The photochemical processes involved are complex but well understood . The key observation is that, ordinarily, most of the chlorine in the stratosphere resides in "reservoir" compounds, primarily chlorine nitrate (ClONO 2) as well as stable end products such as HCl . The formation of end products essentially remove Cl from the ozone depletion process . The former sequester Cl, which can be later made available via absorption of light at shorter wavelengths than 400 nm . 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 process by which the clouds remove NO 2 from the stratosphere by converting it to nitric acid in the PSC particles, which then are lost by sedimentation is called denitrification . This prevents newly formed ClO from being converted back into ClONO 2 . </P> <P> 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 chemical reactions . During the spring, however, the sun comes out, providing energy to drive photochemical reactions and melt the polar stratospheric clouds, releasing considerable ClO, which drives the hole mechanism . Further warming temperatures near the end of spring break up the vortex around mid-December . As warm, ozone and NO 2 - rich air flows in from lower latitudes, the PSCs are destroyed, the enhanced ozone depletion process shuts down, and the ozone hole closes . </P>

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