In 1987, Canada hosted the signing of the Montreal Protocol, which banned chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to protect the ozone layer. This agreement successfully reduced the ozone hole, which traditionally reopens in September and closes by December.
However, since 2021, the hole has remained open longer, closing only after mid-December. This shift threatens the Antarctic ecosystem during its critical summer period in December, affecting the envirinment. For the past 25 years, the ozone hole closed earlier, shielding the flora and fauna from harmful UV rays.
Now, with its extended opening, UV radiation damages the ecosystem. Exceptional events like the Australian fires and the Tonga eruption have delayed the hole’s closure and accelerated snow melting, further exposing Antarctica to UV rays.
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