Ozone, a gas that is produced naturally up in the stratosphere, surrounds the Earth like a protective blanket. This ozone layer keeps us safe because it absorbs many of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.
However, that protective blanket gets holes in it because of manmade chemicals known as ozone-depleting substances, which destroy ozone and our protection from UV rays.
The Antarctic ozone hole was first discovered in 1985 by scientists at BAS.
The Montreal Protocol was signed in 1987. It controls the production and consumption of ozone depleting substances.
Although much has been done by the international community to combat the threat of ozone depletion, the problem is by no means solved. All ozone depleting substances need to be phased out as quickly as possible.
Ozone hole over Antarctica - Sept 2007 - NASA
Next >>