Daily Archives: December 15, 2025

The ozone hole is a region of exceptionally depleted ozone in the stratosphere over the Antarctic. Each year for the past few decades during the Southern Hemisphere spring (August-October), chemical reactions involving chlorine and bromine cause ozone to be rapidly destroyed. This depleted region is known as the “ozone hole.”

Chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, are ozone-depleting chemicals that do not occur naturally. They were invented by chemists in 1928 and used as propellants in spray cans, in Styrofoam puffing agents and as coolants for refrigerators and air conditioners. In 1974, these human-made gases were first linked to ozone destruction. The United States banned the use of CFCs in 1978. Continue reading →