BBC: The ozone hole over Antarctica has stopped growing and the ozone layer is thickening, according to a new study by the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme. Furthermore, the ozone layer is expected to return to 1980 levels by midcentury. Scientists credit the 1987 Montreal Protocol, which called for phasing out manmade chlorofluorocarbons used in refrigerators and spray cans. The ozone layer protects Earth from the Sun’s UV radiation, which can damage wildlife, agriculture, and peoples’ skin, eyes, and immune systems. The news comes in the wake of the announcement that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have reached a historic high. However, reducing manmade CO2 may prove to be much more difficult because of ongoing deforestation and because the gas is integral to so many human activities that currently require the burning of fossil fuels.
