Ban on CFCs credited for holding off ozone depletion

A team of scientists is confirming that a hole in the ozone layer, that was discovered twenty years ago, has stopped growing.

Back in the 1980's, scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), NASA, and two universities paid a visit to Antarctica to determine the cause of this hole.

The scientists theorized the causes could have been solar activity affecting the magnetic field or atmospheric motions.

But it was also concluded the production of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) - chemicals found in products like aerosol sprays and refrigerators - could have contributed to the ozone loss.

Good news and bad news
Now, two NOAA scientists from the same team have announced that the efforts to phase out these chemicals have proven to be successful.

The news was announced this week at a conference in Washington, D.C.

The production of these chemicals has been restricted since 1987 by the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer and was replaced by similar, but less ozone-threatening,substances.

However, the scientists say that the replacement chemicals are not benign, and can contribute to global warming.

The NOAA team will continue to monitor the ozone and ozone-depleting gases, on a new scale NOAA calls the Ozone Depleting Gas Index.

Photography: MSN Encarta

Source: Discovery Channel Reports, August 24 edition