Greenhouse gas emissions threaten global ozone levels, jeopardizing human health and environment.
Throughout the 21st century, increasing emissions of gases like N2O and CH4 from human activities are expected to impact the ozone layer in the stratosphere. Researchers used computer simulations to see how these gases affect ozone levels. They found that rising N2O levels lead to lower global ozone levels due to nitrogen-based reactions. On the other hand, higher CH4 levels increase upper stratosphere ozone loss. Despite this, overall, increasing CH4 levels actually boost global ozone. The relationship between N2O and CH4 levels and ozone changes is nearly straight. This means that as these gases increase, the ozone responds in a predictable way.