THE OZONE LAYER: THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTUREThe PastThe ozone layer or as we know it, the ozone layer, is the region of the Earth's upper atmosphere. Contains a high concentration of ozone molecules. Ozone molecules in the ozone layer work to block approximately 97-99% of solar radiation from reaching the Earth's surface. If the ozone layer were not present, solar radiation would kill most living things and make our planet uninhabitable. The size and thickness of the ozone layer varies based on location and time of year. It is largest towards the poles of the earth and reaches its maximum thickness during spring. The ozone layer was first discovered by Charles Fabry and Henri Buisson in 1913. A network of ozone monitoring stations was established in 1958 and still operates today. It is important to understand and monitor our ozone layer to protect us from harmful radiation from the sun. We will examine the current state of the ozone layer, the main causes of its degradation and what the future holds for the ozone layer if we do not change the way we live.The presentIn the 1980s there is a "hole" in our ozone was discovered the layer The hole is not actually a hole, but rather a very thin section of the ozone layer. The hole is located in the Southern Hemisphere and during the spring months the ozone layer is reduced by about 60% compared to normal levels. The current state of the ozone layer is much better than in the past. This is mainly due to the education of the population and government restrictions. By educating the public about what substances we produce damage the ozone layer, the ozone layer has been able to slowly rebuild itself. The latest scientific assembly... halfway through the paper... will completely heal itself within the next 50 years. While we continue to monitor the state of the ozone layer, we still need to study it. Understanding the ozone layer and how it works will help us find new approaches on how to care for this precious shield of the Earth. As science advances, we will be able to simulate what other variants affect the ozone layer, not just the ones we know are harmful. As new products and chemicals are discovered or manufactured, they need to be tested to assess what impact they will have on the ozone layer, if any. The Montreal Protocol must be an ever-evolving agreement. I would suggest an annual meeting with all participants to reconsider the list of banned substances and add new ones as they are discovered. With this knowledge we will be able to ensure that all species can continue to thrive on this planet.