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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2: Decades Before Ozone Layer is Fixed

Over the pass few years, the hole in the ozone layer has fluctuated in size. Scientists observed that the hole over Antarctica has grown larger than it was last year, but fortunately is smaller than it was in 2003. In 2003, the hole was at its largest--11 million square miles--and reached to the tip of South America.

The hole decreases in size every winter over the polar areas because of the formation of clouds. These clouds damage the layer because they aid chemicals in breaking down the molecular structure of the ozone layer. Scientists believe that the situation will become worse in the next few years before it will improve.

Many common industrial chemicals are blamed for the damage done to the ozone. For example, chemicals like chlorine and bromine wreck havoc on the ozone layer because it attacks the molecules, forcing them to break apart and enlarge the hole. The side effects of these and other chemicals have caused many of them to be banned. With the decline of harmful chemicals in factories, scientists believe the amount already present in the atmosphere will decline in a few decades.

The scientists gather their information from over a hundred member satellites, observatories on the ground and balloons which were released into the atmosphere.

--Written by Amelise Javier

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