Washington, July 30: Satellite images show that Ozone gas is disappearing less quickly from earth's upper atmosphere, Nasa said in a sign that the Ozone depletion could be stabilizing. The layer of Ozone gas in earth's upper atmosphere has been thinning for years, but the National Aeronautic and Space Administration said the thinning has slowed down since 1997. "Ozone is still decreasing, but just not as fast," university of Alabama researcher Mike Newchurch said in a statement. "We are still decades away from total ozone recovery."
The Ozone layer is under attack from chemical-based compounds used as aerosol gases or refrigerants, although these substances are gradually being phased out under a 1987 UN treaty, the montreal protocol. The researchers credited the slowdown to the success of the montreal protocol in reducing such chemicals.

The layer of ozone molecules in the stratosphere filters out dangerous ultra-violet light from the sun which is capable of damaging DNA, killing plant life and causing skin cancer.

Bureau Report