In 1983 the British geophysicist Joe Farman discovered a hole in the ozone layer over the Antarctic. NASA satellites had previously monitored the ozone layer but misinterpreted the data. The hole had been made by CFC (chloro-fluoro-carbon) gases from refrigerators and industry.
in 1985 Joe Farman published an article on this phenomenon which led to the Montreal Protocol in 1987 banning the use of CFC gases. They cause holes in the ozone layer, which protects the Earth from the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation.
Since 1987 other gases such as HFC have been emitted, which have also been found to have an impact on the ozone layer. NASA has also been watching both the Arctic and also the Antarctic to check the melting ice sheets.
Today the emission of CO2 and other greenhouse gases is affecting the climate. We need a new protocol banning or at least reducing the emission of CO2 and other greenhouse gases, which are destroying the conditions for life on Earth.
The Montreal Protocol marked an era, as it was the first time that scientists agreed that humans could have an impact on the climate.
