High Emissions from Feedstocks and Aged Equipment are Delaying Ozone Recovery

aircraft in flight
Scientists analyze the impact of ozone depleting substances on the ozone layer using data acquired from a variety of platforms, including high altitude balloons and aircraft that can obtain air samples in the stratosphere. Data from these platforms help guide the analysis in the Lickley et al. paper. The image shows the landing of the NASA ER-2 aircraft in Fairbanks, Alaska. Photo credits: Ross Salawitch

 

Washington, DC, December 2, 2024 – A new study published in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics reveals a 17-year delay in the projected recovery of the ozone layer since 2006, underscoring the need for enhanced global environmental policies and enforcement.  The recovery date is an estimated year when the key ozone-depleting gases will be back to 1980 levels. Estimated recovery dates provide a benchmark for measuring progress on the global coordinated effort to reduce emissions of ozone-depleting chemicals. The findings are part of a comprehensive analysis led by Georgetown University Earth Commons scientist Megan Lickley and co-authored by University of Maryland Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center professor Ross Salawitch alongside an international team of researchers.

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