The ozone layer over Antarctica has recovered so much, it’s, in fact, stopped several worrying modifications in the Southern Hemisphere’s ambiance. If you’re trying to find somebody to say thanks to, try the globe at large.
The ozone layer is continuing to heal and has the potential to fully recover, according to a new study.
The research, published in Nature, notes that chemicals that caused the depletion of the ozone layer, known as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), also triggered a change in atmospheric circulation. However, since 2000, those changes have paused or “slightly reversed” because of the nearly 30-year-old international treaty, according to experts.
The ozone layer is approximately 7 to 25 miles above the Earth’s surface and acts as a “sunscreen” for the planet, according to NASA. It keeps out harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun that has been linked to skin cancer, cataracts, immune system suppression and can also cause damage to plants.
The study also shows how the Montreal Protocol had managed to reverse the jet streams or air currents which had been forced to move south owing to the hole in the Ozone layer.
Ozone-depleting substances were identified as those emitted by refrigerators and air conditioners, industrial solvents, and so on. In 2000, there was evidence to suggest that there has indeed been a decline in the pollutants in the atmosphere which could harm the ozone layer.
Ultraviolet radiation is known to be dangerous, and our stratospheric ozone is our first line of defense. With the widespread adoption of and compliance with the Montreal Protocol, atmospheric ozone stopped decreasing, and measurements of the upper stratosphere indicated that ozone levels were recovering. The recovery was so significant that the leading models predicted a 100% recovery at most human-populated latitudes by the year 2100. But one unknown had yet to be investigated to the required level of scrutiny: the concentration of ozone at lower altitudes. Contrary to expectations and with no explanation for how it’s happened, the lower stratosphere appears to be losing ozone, so much so that the total amount of ozone over the most densely populated areas isn’t increasing at all.
If we are to restore the ozone layer and reduce the harmful effects of the ultraviolet radiation of life on planet Earth (including to humans), we have to figure out what’s causing this odd behavior. Whether you’re a fan of current climate models or not, getting it right is essential to understanding our world, and keeping it hospitable for not only humans but for the ecosystems, our planet depends on. We only have one planet where life has arisen and sustained itself, as far as we know. It’s up to all of us to take care of it.
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