According to meteorologists at the US-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in early 2022, the amount of ozone-killing materials in our stratosphere had fallen by 50% to levels last seen before the ozone hole became a problem.
In some regions of the stratosphere, the ozone is so depleted that we refer to an “ozone hole.” In fact, we have known for decades that the ozone layer is itself under threat and needs our protection. The UN has been working to repair the hole for three decades via international treaties such as the Montreal Protocol on September 16, 2009. And September 16 is now commonly known as World Ozone Day, or the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.
To a large extent, humans cause ozone depletion through our use of “ozone-depleting substances” (ODSs). These substances can be found in refrigerators, air conditioners, aerosols, solvents, and pesticides, to name a few.
Scientists warn that “very short-lived substances” (VSLSs) also threaten the ozone layer. VSLSs occur naturally in marine life, among seaweed and phytoplankton. But we also produce human-made VSLSs, such as dichloromethane.
Strictly speaking, there is no ozone “hole” — rather, there is a region of “exceptionally depleted ozone over the Antarctic.” It is also referred to as a “dramatic thinning” of ozone, which shows up during spring in the southern hemisphere (August-October). But there are “mini-holes” and other aberrations in the northern hemisphere, too.
Scientists say the future looks good for the ozone layer. It may recover to pre-1980 levels over the next 50 years — sometime between 2050 and 2065 — if we stick to goals set in international treaties.
Source: Deutsche Welle
