According to NASA scientists, an ozone hole over Antarctica compared to 1988 (when she reached her maximum) continues to contract. This is partly happening both due to natural climatic processes, and thanks to international cooperation in the field of nature protection.
In 1997, 197 countries signed an international agreement —Montreal protocol that limits the emissions of chemicals that have a destructive effect on the ozone layer of the Earth. As a result, by September of this year, the size of the ozone hole over Antarctica decreased to 7.6 million. sq. Miles. Compared to last year, it decreased by 1.3 million. sq. Miles. This is the lowest indicator over the past 30 years.
According to scientists, the main factor that contributes to a decrease in ozone loss was unusually warm weather. However, even despite such encouraging indicators, the ozone hole is still quite large, which is largely facilitated by the high content of chlorine and bromine in the atmosphere that destroy the ozone layer.
For the first time, an ozone hole over Antarctica became known in 1985 as a result of monitoring the atmosphere, which was conducted by British scientists. It is formed annually in August and delayed by the beginning of winter. The content of ozone in these places does not exceed 30 % of the norm.
According to the UN forecasts and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the restoration of the ozone layer over Antarctica may last until 2050.
Source — NASA EARTH OBSERVATORY