Scientists Confirm the Ozone Layer Hole Over Antarctica Is Healing — And May Fully Disappear

Did you know that there was an ozone layer hole in Antarctica? Most people don’t actually, maybe because the scientists felt like they had done what was needed, and now that hole is beginning to heal. Some data even suggests it could completely disappear in a few more decades.

What Did Scientists Discover?

A study by MIT says that the ozone layer in Antarctica is healing. This change can’t be achieved without a lot of countries working together to help close the ozone hole that was discovered back in 1985.

Why you don’t hear about the ozone layer anymore

The first scientists who noticed this phenomenon, where our ozone layer is thinning at the South Pole, were the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientists Joe Farman, Brian Gardiner, and Jonathan Shanklin. This discovery, after publishing their study, immediately sparked global discussions and concern about the rapidly depleting protector of Earth from harmful UV rays.

All of this led to the creation of various protocols and conventions that tried to find the cause and ultimately find a solution to it. Decades later, scientists now confirmed that they have found some clear signs that the once-harmful products that we use for everyday life are no longer damaging the ozone layer as they used to.

Read more: MIT News

Why Was the Ozone Layer Damaged?

The main cause of the ozone layer having a hole in Antarctica is the man-made chemicals called CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons). Before a certain protocol, they were used in a lot of products that were used by the world daily. This includes various spray cans, fridges and air conditioners.

When CFCs reach the upper atmosphere, they are able to break down the molecules that make up the ozone layer of the planet. Those particles protect us from harmful UV rays, and with them being depleted, an ozone layer hole emerged over Antarctica.

Read more: EPA.gov

How Did We Achieve This?

After the publication of the original study revealing that the ozone layer is depleting in Antarctica, several more studies were done to fact-check the information and find the main cause. Then, in 1987, almost all countries in the world signed an agreement called the Montreal protocol.

This treaty banned or limited the use of most ozone-damaging substances, especially the CFCs. The scientists of today still attributes this practice to be the main cause why the ozone layer hole is now healing.

Read more: AP News

Why Does the Antarctic Ozone Hole Matter?

The Antarctic Ozone Hole -- From Discovery to Recovery, a Scientific Journey

Some people might ask themselves why the Antarctic ozone hole matters, since no one lives in that place anyway. However, if any part of our ozone layer weakens and starts to let in more harmful UV rays, it won’t matter how far away you are in the hole; that will still affect the whole planet.

Without a proper and healthy ozone layer, humans, animals, and plants will suffer the most from the harmful rays from the sun that are being filtered by the ozone layer. The more UV light we are all exposed to, the more skin cancer will be prominent, damage to the eyes, weaken our crops, and the marine ecosystem will be disrupted, causing wide spread harm to life on Earth.

Author's Final Thoughts

What this present study reveals is that not only are we healing the ozone layer, but we are also capable of achieving great things that help the planet if we all work together. Now, the ozone hole could fully recover by 2066, and we hope it won’t get damaged again after that.

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