Thursday, December 31st 2015. This December, the hole in the ozone layer reached over 10 million square miles in extension. The pertinent studies were led by scientists Raul Cordero and Alessandro Damiani, who personally travelled to the Union Glacier Joint Scientific Polar Station, in the Chilean Antarctica, around 1000 kilometers from the South Pole. This elevated number – a record number at that – represents over double the average that’s considered normal around this date. 
In order to perform the pertinent calculation, the experts used the values gathered by satellite during the last 30 years and concluded that, this year, the fourth largest hole in the ozone layer has been reached.
The ozone layer destruction is mainly caused by substances present in the Polar Stratosphere that destroy the ozone (O3) molecules, these substances come from industrial activities in mid latitudes; as well as the consumption of aerosol spray products that contain chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), methyl bromide all used in cooling and some agro industries.
The destruction of the ozone layer is clearly evident in high latitudes, especially during the Antarctic southern spring; since the area’s meteorological conditions massively destroy the ozone molecules between the months of September and December. This is due to the low temperaturas in the Stratosphere and the Polar Vortex, keeping the ozone from different latitudes from getting to this zone. While at the end of the spring, when temperatures start rising, the Polar Vortex weakens, allowing ozone from other latitudes to close the hole.
In the ozone layer, a great concentration of ozone molecules is found, unequally distributed around the Planet Earth. This layer acts as an air purifier and a filter of Ultraviolet Rays (UV) coming from the Sun. Without this layer, life on Earth would be absolutely impossible; since UV radiation would reach the Earth’s surface affecting men and animals alike.
Some of the consequences of the ozone layer’s decay are: sight problems, skin cancer, immune disease systematic weakening. Diseases like measles, herpes, malaria, leprosy and chickenpox would radically increase their spread rate. In plants it alters the natural cycle of reproduction and the quality of vegetables grown.
Because of all the things mentioned above, the Chilean governor Ricardo Lagos enacted a Law on February 4th of 2006, in which he vowed to enforce certain measures such as the decrease of CFC aerosol sprays. Back then, Lagos emphasized the need for developed countries to assume a more committed attitude around this issue of international scale. Today the need to enforce policies to safeguard the ozone layer is paramount. More details can be seen in this video from the Youtube channel ExcelsiorTv:
ALFA