NASA Sees First Direct Proof of Ozone Hole Recovery

The Antarctic ozone hole was discovered in 1985. Two years later nations of the world signed the Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer, which regulated and later with amendments, completely phased out the production of ozone depleting compounds. Scientists studied chlorine within the Antarctic ozone hole since mid-2004, by using measurements from NASA's Aura satellite. Satellite observations have shown now, that the levels of ozone-destroying chlorine are depleting. Complete recovery will take decades. Man-made chemicals causing the hole have long lifetimes. The Antarctic ozone hole will be gone between 2060 and 2080.