Ozone layer is finally healing itself!

By: | March 31st, 2020

The ozone hole reached its lowest maximum in decades on 8 Sept 2019. (NASA)

We all know how ozone layer is crucial for us. It not only protects us from harmful UV radiations, but also helps in maintaining a balance of climatic conditions and keeping ocean currents on their natural course.

But human activities before the turn of the century had led to its depletion. Mid-latitude jet stream had been gradually shifting towards the South Pole and hurricane-causing jet stream was getting wider. It also resulted in throwing ocean currents off their usual course.

Ozone layer is continuing to recover

However, here’s some good news that our ozone layer is continuing to heal and has the potential to fully recover. According to the study, ozone layer above Antarctica has recovered to the extent that it’s actually reversing some troubling changes in air currents around the Southern Hemisphere.

Latest study highlighted the role played by the Montreal Protocol (the 1987 agreement). This protocol helped in stopping the production of ozone depleting substances (ODSs).

Numerous countries signed this protocol to minimize the emission of ODSs primarily chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) emitted by refrigerators, air conditioners and industrial solvents.

Recent study shows that their efforts worked and we are able to stop the depletion of the ozone layer.

This shows if we take serious immediate action against the climate change, we can help pause or even reverse some of the damage done by us.

Nidhi Goyal

Nidhi is a gold medalist Post Graduate in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences.

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