New Delhi: Most of us know that there is a hole in the ozone layer, the layer that protects us from the harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun. But, lately there has been good news that this hole has been shrinking and it is all thanks to us albeit granted that we are the reason for the hole being there in the first place.
A study conducted by NASA shows that the hole in the ozone layer has indeed gotten smaller, based on the data gathered from the Aura satellite and measuring the levels of the chemicals in the atmosphere that was responsible for the hole.
The study published in the Geophysical Research Letters, shows that there has been a 20 percent decline in the ozone deleting chemicals since 2005. The depletion has been at an average rate of 0.8 percent per year between 2005 and 2016.
The ozone depleting chemicals-chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)-were in great use in products like aerosol sprays, blowing agents for foams and packing materials and refrigerants. These chemicals turn into chlorine after being broken down by the sun’s UV rays and proceed to deplete the ozone.
The sun’s UV rays are harmful and can cause skin cancer and cataracts, suppress immune systems and harm plants and the ozone layer has been our major defence against these rays.
The hole in the ozone was first discovered in the 1980’s, two years after which the entire world came together to try and solve the problem quickly. This resulted in the signing of the Montreal Protocol by many countries, which ultimately resulted in the ban of CFCs.
The Microwave Limb Sounder on the Aura satellite, enabled scientists to gather information about the levels of hydrochloric acid in the stratosphere (where the ozone is present)-hydrochloric acid being the resulting chemical compound after chlorine has destroyed the ozone. Being able to measure the levels of the various chemical compounds provides concrete data as to the effects of our actions on the ozone layer.
This just goes to show that if we put our minds to it, there are no limits to what we can achieve.
