Full recovery of the ozone hole is not expected until the middle of the century. That dire situation has been avoided thanks to the collective efforts of society, Dr. Solomon said. So Dr. Solomon and the other researchers looked at data from satellites and balloon-borne instruments taken each September. The researchers said they had found “fingerprints” indicating that the seasonal ozone hole over Antarctica, a cause of concern since it was discovered in 1984, was getting smaller. “Think of it like a patient with a disease,” Dr. Solomon said.

Source: New York Times June 30, 2016 18:00 UTC