Jonathan Shanklin (born 29 September 1953) is a meteorologist who has worked at the British Antarctic Survey since 1977. Together with Joe Farman and Brian G. Gardiner he discovered the "Ozone Hole" in the 1980s.[1][2]

Jonathan David Shanklin
Jonathan Shanklin in Antarctica, summer 2012
Born (1953-09-29) 29 September 1953 (age 71)
NationalityBritish
Known forOzone Hole Discovery
AwardsThe Chree Medal and Prize (2001)
Scientific career
FieldsPhysics, Meteorology (Professional)
Botany, Hepatics, Astronomy (Amateur)
InstitutionsBritish Antarctic Survey
Websitewww.theozonehole.com/jonathanshanklin.htm

Shanklin has described his role at the BAS as being that of a "general dogsbody" at the time of the discovery of the "ozone hole".[3] He calibrated an instrument called the Dobson Ozone Spectrophotometer which provided data on atmospheric ozone.

In an article discussing the discovery, the BBC quotes him as saying

Perhaps the most startling lesson from the ozone hole is just how quickly our planet can change. Given the speed with which humankind can affect it, following the precautionary principle is likely to be the safest road to future prosperity.[4]

Shanklin maintains the ozone pages at BAS. He plays cricket, is a bell-ringer, an active local naturalist and is a keen amateur astronomer, being Director of the British Astronomical Association's Comet Section [1].

In December 2020 it was announced that the UK Antarctic Place-names Committee had named a glacier on the Antarctic Peninsula after Shanklin, in part to mark the 200th anniversary of the discovery of the continent.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Farman, J. C.; Gardiner, B. G.; Shanklin, J. D. (1985). "Large losses of total ozone in Antarctica reveal seasonal ClOx/NOx interaction". Nature. 315 (6016): 207. Bibcode:1985Natur.315..207F. doi:10.1038/315207a0. S2CID 4346468.
  2. ^ Shanklin, J. (2010). "Reflections on the ozone hole". Nature. 465 (7294): 34–35. Bibcode:2010Natur.465...34S. doi:10.1038/465034a. PMID 20445611. S2CID 4413691.
  3. ^ Thirty years on...
  4. ^ Richard Black (2010), Deep reflections on the ozone story
  5. ^ Amos, Jonathan (3 December 2020). "Antarctic place names recognise 'modern explorers'". BBC News. Retrieved 5 December 2020.