Earth’s ozone layer protects us from harmful solar radiation. Human activity, including use of ozone depleting compounds like some refrigerants, led to the Antarctic ozone hole. The 1987 Montreal Protocol phased down these compounds, leading to an improved ozone layer. NASA scientists work with other researchers around the world to monitor the health of the ozone layer and the size of the Antarctic ozone hole. https://go.nasa.gov/3eojsC8 #OzoneDay | NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Every year, the hole in the ozone layer fluctuates with the temperature, with chemical depletion of ozone happening faster in colder temperatures. The ozone hole reaches an annual maximum at the end of winter in the Southern Hemisphere. This year, the hole in the ozone layer was very small -- the result of unusual weather patterns over Antarctica that let warmer air into the stratosphere, where the ozone layer is. NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration and National Oceanic and Atmo

The ozone layer acts as Earth's shield, protecting us from the sun's...