NASA confirms hole on Earth's ozone layer shrinking

New Delhi : NASA scientists have found significant proofs that ozone layer on Earth is shrinking or healing itself; though it will take more than half a century to fully recover.

In the early 1980s, scientists spotted an expanding hole in the ozone layer of Earth. On investigations, it was found that hair sprays, refrigerants, and other chemicals were releasing an ozone-depleting chemical into the air called chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs. When sunlight hits these airborne chemicals, it unleashes chlorine atoms which destroy ozone molecules.

Since ozone layer plays an important role in saving humans from harmful radiations in the sunlight, the scientist took the issue on high priority.

A gaping ozone hole (which is technically an area with vastly depleted ozone levels) stoked global alarm, and eventually, every nation in the world signed the Montreal Protocol, which completely phased out the use of these ozone-annihilating chemicals.

As a result of the treaty, the positive effects have now been confirmed by NASA.

From the satellite data collected between 2005 and 2016, NASA scientists found that chlorine levels in the ozone hole have been decreasing by nearly 1 percent each year.

The findings have been published in the science journal Geophysical Research Letters in the January 4 edition.