§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the average percentage thinning of the stratospheric ozone layer over -(a) Shetland and (b) northern Europe generally, in each year since 1979.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe table sets out, for each year for which data are available, estimates of the average percentage departure of the thickness of the stratosperhic ozone layer over Shetland, from the long-term mean.
938W
Year Shetland (Lerwick) 1981 +5.2 1982 +7.0 1983 -2.6 1984 +2.1 1985 -1.8 1986 +0.9 1987 +0.6 1988 -2.1 1989 + 1.5 1990 -0.9 1991 -0.3 1992 -3.2 1993 -6.7 Analysis of global ozone data is carried out by the World Meterological Office—United Nations Environment Programme ozone scientific assessment panel. Its latest estimate of the average depletion of the ozone layer at northern European latitudes is 3 per cent. per decade from 1979 to 1991. Large departures of 1 to 2 per cent. from this trend from late 1991 to May 1993 were reported by the United Kingdom stratospheric ozone review group, whose report has been placed in the library of the House. These years were greatly influenced by atmospheric dynamics and Mount Pinatubo volcanic aerosol and the low figures for 1992 and 1993 therefore do not necessarily imply an acceleration of ozone loss.