Geophysicist who discovered a hole the size of the United States in the ozone layer over the Antarctic
Joe Farman was a geophysicist whose discovery of dramatic decreases in ozone levels over Antarctica led to the identification of an enormous hole in the ozone layer, motivating rapid international political action.
In the 1970s scientists had proposed that chlorofluorocarbons — “CFC” chemicals found in products ranging from hairspray to the household fridge — cause the breakdown of ozone when released into the atmosphere. With ozone playing a vital role in shielding the Earth’s surface from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, the implications were serious.
But while some evidence was gathered to support their hypothesis, natural ozone fluctuations made effects difficult to discern.