As everyone should know, the earth is protected by a layer of ozone in the upper atmosphere that prevents most cosmic radiation from reaching the surface. Comic rays cause cancer, among other things, and most life forms on the planet are not evolved to survive too much cosmic radiation -- including humans.
In the 1980s, it was discovered that the ozone layer was being destroyed by chlorofluorocarbons, a chemical that was then widely used in aerosols and refrigerants.
Because the chlorofluorocarbon industry lacked the political power to stop it from happening, almost every nation on the planet was able to join together to ban their use in 1987.
So did the ban work?
Well, a newly released study says "yes"! In the absence of chlorofluorocarbons, the earth's ozone has been slowly healing itself. Today, the Northern Hemisphere’s upper ozone layer is on track to be repaired by the 2030s and the Antarctic hole will be fixed by the 2060s.
Now if the fossil fuel corporations and uber-rich Koch brothers would please just get out of the way and allow us to do something about global climate change before it's too late -- that would be nice.
Earth's ozone layer is healing from aerosol damage: UN
EDIT: As Exchemist points out, it's ultraviolet radiation, not cosmic rays, that the ozone layer guards against.
In the 1980s, it was discovered that the ozone layer was being destroyed by chlorofluorocarbons, a chemical that was then widely used in aerosols and refrigerants.
Because the chlorofluorocarbon industry lacked the political power to stop it from happening, almost every nation on the planet was able to join together to ban their use in 1987.
So did the ban work?
Well, a newly released study says "yes"! In the absence of chlorofluorocarbons, the earth's ozone has been slowly healing itself. Today, the Northern Hemisphere’s upper ozone layer is on track to be repaired by the 2030s and the Antarctic hole will be fixed by the 2060s.
Now if the fossil fuel corporations and uber-rich Koch brothers would please just get out of the way and allow us to do something about global climate change before it's too late -- that would be nice.
Earth's ozone layer is healing from aerosol damage: UN
EDIT: As Exchemist points out, it's ultraviolet radiation, not cosmic rays, that the ozone layer guards against.
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