⏰ when
When Was the Ozone Hole Discovered?
environmentscience
Quick Answer
British scientists reported the Antarctic ozone hole in May 1985.
The Full Story
In May 1985, scientists Joe Farman, Brian Gardiner, and Jonathan Shanklin of the British Antarctic Survey published their discovery of severe ozone depletion over Antarctica. Satellite data from NASA confirmed the finding. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), widely used in refrigerants and aerosols, were identified as the cause. The 1987 Montreal Protocol, ratified by every UN member state, phased out CFC production. The ozone layer is slowly recovering and is projected to return to 1980 levels by roughly the 2060s over Antarctica.
Key Facts
1.The Montreal Protocol is often called the most successful international environmental treaty.
2.CFC molecules can survive in the atmosphere for decades, continuing to destroy ozone.
3.At its worst in the early 2000s, the ozone hole covered about 28 million square kilometres.
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"The Ozone Hole — How the World Came Together to Save the Sky"