Ozone Depletion
Ozone depletion is the gradual thinning of the Earth's protective ozone layer in the stratosphere, primarily caused by human-made chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). This process allows more harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun to reach the surface, leading to increased health risks such as skin cancer and environmental damage to marine life and agriculture. In today's context, it's a rallying point for international environmental agreements, highlighting humanity's role in reversing planetary harm.
Did you know?
The Antarctic ozone hole, first detected in 1985 by British scientists using satellite data, can grow to cover an area larger than the entire United States—about 9 million square miles at its peak—and has led to a noticeable increase in UV radiation levels, equivalent to moving from a shaded forest to direct midday sun in just a few decades. This discovery accelerated global action, resulting in the Montreal Protocol, which has phased out nearly 99% of ozone-depleting substances worldwide since 1987.
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