A new study suggests that the ozone layer may not be recovering as previously believed, and that the hole may even be expanding. This contradicts widely accepted assessments, including a recent UN-backed study. The depletion of the ozone layer is mainly attributed to the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which were banned under the Montreal Protocol in 1987.
The recovery of the ozone layer — which sits miles above the Earth and protects the planet from ultraviolet radiation — has been celebrated as one of the world's greatest But in a new study, some scientists claim it may not be recovering at all, and that the hole may even be expanding. The findings are in disagreement with widely accepted assessments of the ozone layer 's status, including a recent UN-backed study that showed it would return to 1980s levels as soon as 2040.
A simulated image of the ozone hole in October over Antarctica. (Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service) In 1987, several countries agreed to ban or phase down the use of more than 100 ozone-depleting chemicals that had caused a "hole" in the layer above Antarctica. The depletion is mainly attributed to the use of chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, which were common in aerosol sprays, solvents and refrigerants. That ban, agreed under the Montreal Protocol, is widely considered to have been effective in aiding the ozone layer's recover
Ozone Layer Recovery Expanding Study UN-Backed Study Montreal Protocol Chlorofluorocarbons Cfcs
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