The ozone hole over Antarctica could disappear completely by 2035.

Scientists in the US have analysed satellite data over the past 15 years and confirmed that the recovery of the Earth's protective layer is proceeding at an accelerated rate due to the reduction of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) emissions. The study is published in the journal Nature.

The ozone layer protects the planet from dangerous ultraviolet radiation, and its depletion is associated with an increase in cancer and eye disease. In 1985, scientists discovered that a giant hole had formed in the atmosphere over Antarctica due to emissions of CFCs, chemicals used in aerosols, air conditioners and refrigerators. Two years later, countries signed the Montreal Protocol, which began phasing out these compounds.

American researchers developed a mathematical model to test exactly what caused the ozone layer to recover. They compared several scenarios - no CFCs, no greenhouse gases, and all the factors remained the same. The analysis showed that phasing out CFCs was 95 percent likely to be the key factor in reducing the ozone hole. Already in 2018, its recovery rate has exceeded projections. If this trend continues, scientists predict that within 11 years the ozone hole will disappear, becoming a rare example of a successful solution to a global environmental problem. | BGNES