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Ozone layer

The ozone layer sits about 15-30 kilometres above the earth and reduces the amount of dangerous ultraviolet light which reaches the earth from the sun. Too much ultraviolet light can cause skin cancer and cataracts in people; it also distorts plant growth, damages the marine environment, and leads to the breakdown of materials such as plastics.

The ozone layer is vital for our survival and well-being. Man-made substances damage the ozone layer. The 1987 Montreal Protocol is an international agreement under which these substances are being phased out. The Protocol is working well. The amount of ozone-depleting substances going into the atmosphere is starting to peak, and will soon start to decline. The ozone layer is expected to repair itself very slowly over the next 70 years. For more information about the Protocol visit the United Nations Ozone Secretariat website. Ozone damage is also related to global warming.

Information about New Zealand research from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) is available on the NIWA website. Good links to international ozone and science pages are also available on this site.

Frequently asked questions about ozone science and the effects of ozone layer damage are available on the United Nations Environmental Programme website.

Last updated: 12 March 2008