The Antarctic ozone hole is recovering, although continues to occur every year, as a result of the Montreal Protocol. Without its implementation much more severe ozone depletion in the Polar Regions would take place.

The Montreal Protocol has led to the phase-out of 99 percent of ozone-depleting chemicals in refrigerators, air-conditioners and many other products.

Since 2000 outside the polar regions upper stratospheric ozone has increased by 1-3% per decade. The ozone layer changes in the latter half of this century will be complex, with increases and decreases related to different regions. According to model predictions the Antarctic ozone hole is expected to gradually close, with spring time total column ozone returning to 1980 values in the 2060s, while Northern and Southern hemisphere mid latitudes ozone total column are expected to return at 1980 abundances respectively in 2030s and 2060s.

Featured Educators

• Dr Diego Loyola, Senior Scientist, DLR

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