Joe Farman obituary

Scientist whose discovery of the depletion of the ozone layer sparked global action to phase out dangerous chemicalsJoe Farman, who has died aged 82, was the leader of a small group of scientists who made one of the most important discoveries in recent history. In 1985, they published a landmark paper on the ozone layer, the protective skin that filters the sun's ultraviolet rays and without which the rays can cause cancers and eye damage. Their research showed that the ozone layer was being rapidly depleted over the Antarctic.Just two years later, world governments signed the Montreal protocol, a treaty phasing out the use of CFCs, the chemicals used in aerosols and other applications that were reacting with the ozone. This swift action bore witness to the scale of the threat, and the protocol still stands as the most successful environmental treaty ever. Disaster was averted, and the dangerous chemicals were replaced by – somewhat – safer alternatives. Full repair of the ozone layer will still take decades – the holes in the atmosphere should close by 2080, at current rates – but without the work of Farman the effects could have been catastrophic.The story of the ozone layer is one of the most important lessons in modern science. Millions of tonnes of dangerous chemical compounds had been poured into the air from industrial activities over decades. Unknown to the people below, these chemicals were causing drastic changes to the atmosphere that were imperilling life ...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Obituaries Ozone layer guardian.co.uk Physics Environment Science Source Type: news