July 27, 2012 | Corrinne

I think we were all pretty fed up of the rain earlier this summer. But stormy weather may be more than just a petty nuisance – thunderstorms could actually be damaging the ozone layer.

Scientists have discovered that thunderstorms release water high into the atmosphere, close to the ozone layer. That doesn’t sound like a big deal, but the ozone layer – which shields us from the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays – is destroyed by chemical reactions with water.

Global warming will probably mean more thunderstorms, and therefore more ozone damage. Let’s hope for calmer weather!