In the mid-1980s, scientists identified a significant depletion in the ozone layer located over Antarctica. The ozone layer serves as a crucial protective barrier, filtering out substantial amounts of harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Without this layer, there would be a projected increase in rates of cancer, cataracts, and crop failures.
Current scientific understanding indicates that the ozone layer is continuing to heal, a development attributed to scientific interventions and international cooperation.