Ozone Layer Healing Progresses under Montreal Protocol

Quick Summary

• A new report from the World Meteorological Association indicates that the ozone hole over Antarctica is steadily shrinking, showing continued healing after nearly 40 years of global efforts.
• The ozone layer, located in the stratosphere, blocks harmful ultraviolet radiation. A major depletion was identified in the 1980s,caused by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
• Nations addressed this challenge through the 1987 Montreal Protocol, banning CFC production. The agreement has been hailed as one of the most successful environmental treaties.
• results project full recovery to pre-1980 levels: tropics adn midlatitudes by 2040, Arctic by 2045, and Antarctica around 2066.
• The report highlights better-than-average atmospheric ozone levels globally for most of 2024 and reduced depletion over Antarctica compared to previous years.
• Experts caution that recovery trends may vary annually due to factors like climate phenomena (e.g.,El Niño),solar activity cycles,and broader atmospheric dynamics.

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