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Ozone layer

Since 2002, scientific data pointed to a slower decline of CFC-11, one of several chemical substances banned by the Montreal Protocol in 1987. The amount of CFC-11 found in the atmosphere has actually gone up during that time, prompting the United Nations

Scientists detected a spike in ozone-depleting chemicals. They’ll use the Montreal Protocol to stop the pollution.

Environment

Those who have watched over the Montreal Protocol since its formation have never had to take significant measures to enforce it — until now.

This image is from a video made in 2011 that compiled visualizations of the Antarctic ozone hole. Recent findings have shown that the hole is filling up — while other parts of ozone remain on the decline.

The ozone hole over the Antarctic is beginning to fill up. Here’s the bad news.

Science
A false-color image showing ozone concentrations above Antarctica on Oct. 2, 2015.

The ozone layer is bouncing back. And our hairstyles will be OK too.

Environment
Children play in a pool in front of Punta Hermosa beach, south of Lima, on Jan. 2, 2015.

Why South American parents are hiding their kids from the sun

Environment
The MV Akademik Shokalskiy got caught in encroaching ice off Antarctica in late December of 2013. The Russian ship's 52 passengers were airlifted to a nearby icebreaker more than a week later.

In looking back at this year’s environmental news there’s a lot of doom and gloom — but not entirely

Environment
This NASA graphic shows relative average levels of atmospheric ozone over the northern hemisphere in 1984 and 1997. The lower concentrations, shown in darker colors, are due to the effects of ozone-destroying chemicals in the atmosphere.

The latest news on the ozone layer shows we can solve big environmental problems

Environment

After years of decline, the global ozone layer is starting to bounce back. That’s a big environmental success story — and an important example of what pro-environment actions can do in the long run, if countries take strong action together.

China, U.S. to seek way to end production, use of climate change causing HFCs

Environment

HFCs were supposed to be the way we saved the ozone. And they did. But at a new cost: climate change. These gases, which are used in refrigerators and air conditioners to produce cool air, trap heat in the atmosphere at a greater rate than carbon dioxide, as much as 1000 times, leading to climate change.

The World

Ozone Treaty Revisited

Delegates from around the world are meeting in Canada for a tenth anniversary assessment of the Montreal Protocol.– the treaty governing the phase out of ozone depleters, like chloroflourocarbons Some delegates are upset that developing nations are still producing CFC’s, and selling them illegally. But, others warn that the long term goal of a total, […]

The World

Update on Ozone

David Baron examines the current debate over the state of the planet’s thinning ozone layer. Although the hole in our atmosphere continues to grow, scientists say it’s doing so more slowly these days, and the global phaseout of chlorofluorocarbons may have prevented a real disaster. Still, controversy remains about current damage, and most scientists agree […]

Ozone Recap

Steve surveys the past 12 months’ worsening news on atmospheric ozone depletion, which Living on Earth covered extensively.