WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE OZONE HOLE?
Thirty years ago a group of scientists working for the British Antarctic Survey made a shocking discovery. The tiny layer of ozone in the atmosphere above Antarctica was seriously depleted.
It was a discovery that led to a worldwide campaign to avert environmental catastrophe. The thinning ozone layer was big news in the 1980s and 1990s, but what was the problem and what happened?
What is the ozone layer?
The ozone layer surrounds the entire planet and is made up of the chemical compound ozone (03). It’s up in the stratosphere – there’s a layer 10km up and another one 50km up.
Why is it important?
It’s the earth’s equivalent of suntan lotion. It absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun; radiation that would otherwise cause skin cancer in humans. Without an ozone layer, there couldn’t be human life on earth.
Why was the hole forming?
A couple of man made chemicals were slowly rising into the stratosphere and thinning the ozone. You may remember‘CFCs’ being talked about. In the 1980s you could find these chemicals keeping your fridge cold, propelling your aerosol deodorant and much more besides.
It was a discovery that led to a worldwide campaign to avert environmental catastrophe. The thinning ozone layer was big news in the 1980s and 1990s, but what was the problem and what happened?
What is the ozone layer?
The ozone layer surrounds the entire planet and is made up of the chemical compound ozone (03). It’s up in the stratosphere – there’s a layer 10km up and another one 50km up.
Why is it important?
It’s the earth’s equivalent of suntan lotion. It absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun; radiation that would otherwise cause skin cancer in humans. Without an ozone layer, there couldn’t be human life on earth.
Why was the hole forming?
A couple of man made chemicals were slowly rising into the stratosphere and thinning the ozone. You may remember‘CFCs’ being talked about. In the 1980s you could find these chemicals keeping your fridge cold, propelling your aerosol deodorant and much more besides.
So, we stopped using them straight away, right?
Er, no. There was already evidence of the dangers of CFCs as far back as the 1970s and nobody seemed terribly interested. But following the Antarctic findings a global campaign to halt use of the harmful chemicals got underway.
Businesses and industries talked about changing the chemicals they used. But, they warned, it would take a long time to replace CFCs in their products. But by now the general public were aware of how serious the situation was. Companies soon realised that the longer they delayed, the more money they would lose, as shoppers looked for the words ‘CFC free’ in the supermarket.
The world’s governments got together and signed The Montreal Protocol, severely limiting the production of ozone-depleting substances - leading to a massive 97% cut in their use.
Er, no. There was already evidence of the dangers of CFCs as far back as the 1970s and nobody seemed terribly interested. But following the Antarctic findings a global campaign to halt use of the harmful chemicals got underway.
Businesses and industries talked about changing the chemicals they used. But, they warned, it would take a long time to replace CFCs in their products. But by now the general public were aware of how serious the situation was. Companies soon realised that the longer they delayed, the more money they would lose, as shoppers looked for the words ‘CFC free’ in the supermarket.
The world’s governments got together and signed The Montreal Protocol, severely limiting the production of ozone-depleting substances - leading to a massive 97% cut in their use.
'This was the campaign to help save the planet that actually succeeded. It succeeded, partly because the public grasped how life-or-death this issue was.'
Does that mean there is a happy ending?
The science is incredibly complicated, but it looks good for the ozone layer. The chemicals take many years to reach the stratosphere and so old CFCs are still eating away at the layer. But the great news is that the ozone layer slowly repairs itself and the hole is beginning to heal.
The science is incredibly complicated, but it looks good for the ozone layer. The chemicals take many years to reach the stratosphere and so old CFCs are still eating away at the layer. But the great news is that the ozone layer slowly repairs itself and the hole is beginning to heal.
But there is likely to be a depleted ozone layer for another 50 years. And if you’re planning to holiday in Antarctica (or even Patagonia) make sure you take a very high spf sunscreen!
And the moral is?
This was the campaign to help save the planet that actually succeeded. It succeeded, partly because the public grasped how life-or-death this issue was. Even before the Montreal Protocol, companies knew they had to change, and quickly.
It’s also a reassuring sign that it is possible to get governments and consumers to sit up and take notice, when it really is an issue of life and death. It’s why Tearfund supporters will be making a big fuss, as the world’s leaders prepare to sign a new global agreement on climate change. Care to join us?
And the moral is?
This was the campaign to help save the planet that actually succeeded. It succeeded, partly because the public grasped how life-or-death this issue was. Even before the Montreal Protocol, companies knew they had to change, and quickly.
It’s also a reassuring sign that it is possible to get governments and consumers to sit up and take notice, when it really is an issue of life and death. It’s why Tearfund supporters will be making a big fuss, as the world’s leaders prepare to sign a new global agreement on climate change. Care to join us?
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