The ozone hole, a gap in the layer of ozone in the upper atmosphere that was first detected in 1979 was discovered jointly by Joseph Farman, Brian Gardiner and Jonathan Shanklin, of the British Antarctic Survey. Jonathan Shanklin also is the Director of the British Astronomical Association's Comet Section and the President of the Cambridge Natural History Society.
The hole, which is about the same area as the whole of the USA develops every spring over Antarctica, at the South Pole. A smaller hole also appears in the North Pole, over the Arctic and these holes seem to expand every year that goes by.
The loss of ozone is caused by chemicals created by human industry over the last 75 years or so – these react with ozone, which is a molecule made up of three atoms of oxygen and remove it from the upper atmosphere. Normally, the ozone layer protects the Earth from the most harmful ultra violet light that comes from the Sun. As the ozone hole expands, people under it run the risk of skin damage from sun exposure.
The hole, which is about the same area as the whole of the USA develops every spring over Antarctica, at the South Pole. A smaller hole also appears in the North Pole, over the Arctic and these holes seem to expand every year that goes by.
The loss of ozone is caused by chemicals created by human industry over the last 75 years or so – these react with ozone, which is a molecule made up of three atoms of oxygen and remove it from the upper atmosphere. Normally, the ozone layer protects the Earth from the most harmful ultra violet light that comes from the Sun. As the ozone hole expands, people under it run the risk of skin damage from sun exposure.
