Eli5: how can earth ozone layers heal itself even with our high pollution level?

Question

Eli5: how can earth ozone layers heal itself even with our high pollution level?

In: 5

Answer 1

Ozone is constantly being created in the upper atmosphere when ultraviolet light from the sun interacts with molecular oxygen. The ozone layer was being damaged because we were emitting ozone depleting chemicals faster than ozone was created naturally by this process. All we had to do was stop emitting ozone-depleting chemicals (which we did) and over time, new ozone forms naturally. It’s only those specific chemicals that damage the ozone layer, not all pollution in general. Now, the ozone layer is largely replenished from its low point in the 1980’s.