What is it about?
This paper ('Comment') is a rebuttal of a previous 2022 paper in AIP Advances which argued for large depletion in the ozone layer over the tropics since the 1960s. We show that this result was false due to misuse of an ozone dataset. (The creators of the ozone dataset are coauthors on our rebuttal paper).
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Why is it important?
The original paper made very significant claims about ozone later depletion, which were at odds with the direct observations and the consensus of nearly all scientists working in the field. It was widely reported in the media and thereby led to unnecessary public concern and work for scientists. It is an important part of the scientific publication process that these errors are corrected.
Perspectives
Other than "there is no tropical ozone hole", our take-home lessons relate to the peer-review publication process and are the following: Scientists: Take care in the data you use (ask the people who made the observations!) and make sure you read the relevant literature before claiming a discovery. Journals: Stick to publishing papers in your own specialist fields and where you have editorial expertise. Pick well qualified reviewers. Be especialy careful if you are going to promote a paper in a press release. Reviewers: Don't be afraid to say no if it's outside your expertise.
M Chipperfield
University of Leeds
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Comment on “Observation of large and all-season ozone losses over the tropics” [AIP Adv. 12, 075006 (2022)], AIP Advances, December 2022, American Institute of Physics,
DOI: 10.1063/5.0121723.
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