The most severe ozone loss, unexpected at the time of discovery, was found to be recurring each springtime over Antarctica. Computer models of the atmosphere employing this information were used to simulate how much ozone depletion was already occurring and to predict how much more might occur in the future.īy the mid-1980s observations of the ozone layer showed that depletion was indeed occurring. Measurements in the laboratory and in the atmosphere characterized the chemical reactions that were involved in ozone destruction. These trends were linked to growing production and use of CFCs and other ODSs for spray can propellants, refrigeration and air conditioning, foam blowing, industrial cleaning, and other applications. Monitoring stations showed that the abundances of gases that are ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) 1, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), were steadily increasing in the atmosphere. The resulting increase in ultraviolet radiation at Earth’s surface would increase incidents of skin cancer and eye cataracts, suppress the immune systems of humans, and also adversely affect agriculture as well as terrestrial and oceanic ecosystems.įollowing the discovery of this environmental issue, researchers sought a better understanding of this threat to the ozone layer. In the mid-1970s scientists discovered that some human-produced chemicals could lead to depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer. About 90% of atmospheric ozone is contained in the stratospheric “ozone layer”,which shields Earth’s surface from harmful ultraviolet radiation emitted by the Sun. Most of Earth’s ozone resides in the stratosphere, the layer of the atmosphere that is more than 10 kilometers (6 miles) above the surface. Nevertheless, ozone is vital to human well-being as well as agricultural and ecosystem sustainability. ![]() Ozone is present only in small amounts in the atmosphere.
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