November 1, 2005
1 min read
Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAmReplenished Ozone
By Charles Q. Choi
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
The ozone layer is no longer disappearing. Depletion of stratospheric ozone, which defends the planet from harmful levels of ultraviolet rays, was first detected 25 years ago and stems mostly from industrial pollutants, especially chlorofluorocarbons. Atmospheric scientists analyzed data on the entire ozone layer from satellites and ground stations and found ozone level decline plateaued between 1996 and 2002. The ozone layer has even increased a small amount in parts of the Northern Hemisphere, including much of the area over North America, Europe and Asia. Study co-author Betsy Weatherhead of the University of Colorado at Boulder says that more recent data, through this past August, “absolutely are in agreement with the general conclusions of the paper,” which appears in the August 31 Journal of Geophysical Research. Overall, however, ozone will remain seriously depleted worldwide, especially at the poles, because ozonedestroying chemicals persist in the atmosphere for decades.
It’s Time to Stand Up for Science
If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.
I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.
If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.
In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.
There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.
