For the first time, scientists have discovered compelling evidence that chemical pollution giant hole in the ozone layer continues to shrink. That is, policies that applied to the Montreal Protocol since 22 years and reap the results.
In the protocol signed in 1989 agreed on the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), toxic material commonly used in air conditioning and refrigerator should not be longer used.
From the study, the ban has helped restore some of the planet's protective ozone layer.
For information, the ozone hole is not really a hole, but a region above the poles where the ozone layer is generally thick O3 molecule contains about 24 kilometers of eroded into very thin. In fact, this layer is a protector of planet Earth from solar radiation.
The evidence that the ozone layer, particularly in the south polar region re-thickening is good news for life in the world. Because the ozone layer can absorb up to 99 percent of high-frequency ultraviolet rays to the Earth can be inhabited by living things.
Prior to this, atmospheric expert scientists found that the amount of CFCs that cause ozone depletion in startosfir (one layer at a height of between 8 to 50 kilometers) above the north pole, continued to decline.
Researchers estimate the decrease in the number of CFC potential to increase the thickness of the ozone layer in the region. But so far researchers have not been able to confirm it. One reason, the thickness of the ozone layer fluctuate dramatically from season to season. So the ozone hole is difficult.
Now, a group of researchers headed by Murry Salby environment, from Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia, managed to find the cause of the fluctuations in the thickness of the ozone. By eliminating the fluctuation of the data collected, researchers can produce systematic changes to data on the ozone layer the south pole.
In a report published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, the researchers calculate, now the ozone hole over south pole have shrunk to 15 percent compared to when the ozone hole reached its maximum in the 1990's.
"These findings are evidence generated from research that convinced about the recovery of the ozone layer," said Adrian McDonald, an expert atmospheric scientists from the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, as quoted from LifeLittleMysteries, May 20, 2011.
McDonald said that this finding is an example where if the statistical significance of these data is high enough, you can see patterns more clearly and can believe the data.
