The ozone hole above the Antarctic has a greater impact on the climate than expected. Researchers say it has even changed precipitation patterns in the South Pacific.
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Los efectos del agujero de ozono en el clima… y en la piel
The ozone hole over Antarctica has not made headlines for some time. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the recovery of the damaged layer is back on track since chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are practically no longer produced or consumed.
However, this does not mean that ozone research has lost importance, as past reports by the Oeschger Center for Climate Research at the University of Bern confirm.
The researcher Prof. Dr. Stefan Brönnimann found that past thinning of the ozone layer has not only led to more UVB rays from the sun reaching the earth’s surface, greatly increasing the risk of skin cancer in humans.
It has also changed precipitation patterns in the South Pacific. In French Polynesia, for example, rain levels rose by 50 percent between October and December between the 1960s and 1990s. According to Brönniman’s findingsExternal link this may have a direct correlation with the growing ozone hole during this period.
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Nemo brought the Eurovision Song Contest to Switzerland with a victory on Saturday evening in Malmö, Sweden. It is Switzerland's third victory in the history of the music contest.
Switzerland abstains from vote on Palestinian bid for full UN membership
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On Friday, Switzerland abstained from the vote at the General Assembly on granting the Palestinians new rights at the United Nations (UN).
Protein in abdominal fat could help shape obesity treatment
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The study analysed fat cells from different locations in the body, and found that those in the abdomen have unique properties.
North African asylum claims fall after rapid Swiss processing
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The accelerated procedure, now out of its test phase, has resulted in a significant drop in applications from North African countries.
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The artist's song "The Code" focuses on their journey as a nonbinary individual. It is one of the favourites to win this year's contest.
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Air quality still impacted by pollutants
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Compared with other countries in Europe with similar population density, pollutant emissions in Switzerland are relatively low. Air quality has been improving steadily since the 1980s. The emissions of most pollutants like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide have fallen over the past years. As the Federal Office for the Environment points out, currently nine of…
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Four-fifths of Swiss now consider climate change a significant hazard, whereas in 1994 – when the previous Swiss Environment Survey was conducted – just over half did. Nevertheless considerable gaps remain in the public’s “green knowledge”, revealed the study, published on Wednesday. Seventy-nine per cent of the more than 3,300 Swiss interviewed between November 2006…
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