On February 8th 2013, scientists from European SpaceSCIENCE/EUROPE
Agency (ESA) announced that their weather satellite
with an instrument designed to sense ozone concentrations CONCENTRATE
made it clear that the seasonal ozone 'hole' above theSEASON
Antarctica had shrunk to record levels! The scientists are SCIENCE
quite enthusiastic about the information because ozoneENTHUSIASM/ INFORM
forms a protective layer about 12-19 miles up in thePROTECT
stratosphere, and is a natural sunscreen which preventsNATURE
the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays from reaching the Earth's HARM
surface. Without it, humans would be even more exposed
to sunburn and skin cancer. Though it will take years to
restore the world's ozone concentration to the level it was CONCENTRATE
in the 1960's, scientists believe that the hole over the AntarcticaSCIENCE
will be completely repaired within the next few decadesCOMPLETE