Even though levels of organic chlorine in the stratosphere are going down, we saw severe ozone depletion in the Arctic this past winter. |
It's surprising that these chemicals are still being strongly emitted seven years after their production was banned. |
That effect will be with us for at least the first half of this century. |
The reservoirs of ozone-depleting chemicals found in old fridges and air-conditioning systems may be greater than anticipated, and if this continues into the future then the projection of ozone hole recovery in 2050 may have to be extended. |
These fractions are surprisingly high. We would have expected them to be exhausted by 2003. |