Revisiting the “Ozone Hole” Metaphor: From Observational Window to Global Environmental Threat

Abstract

International audienceIn 1985, just over 30 years ago, the " ozone hole " made its appearance in the press as a truly global environmental threat. As one of the most important global environmental issues of the late twentieth century, the " ozone hole " is also and maybe most importantly a remarkable metaphorical, visual and imaginary construction. This essay examines the historical trajectory of one of the most influential environmental metaphors of the twentieth century, the famous " ozone hole, " from its birth within the astronomical community at the beginning of the twentieth century to its contemporary framing as a global environmental threat. The article provides evidence why metaphors constitute a valuable object of historically informed studies of scientific practice, and shows in particular how metaphorical landscapes shift over time, mapping at the same time larger social and political developments. The essay ends by showing how scientific images and metaphorical framings interact and how they shape scientific and popular discourse on nature, as well as our understanding of the global environment

Environment and health - thirty years of successful implementation of the Montreal protocol

“…Until the 1980s, the issue of the ozone layer was out of the focus of scientists and the wider public [9]. In 1985, the British scientist Joe Farman discovered the ozone "hole" over the Antarctica [10]. It was proven that, at a concentration of 80 ppb, the atmospheric ozone has an especially harmful impact on human health and the entire living world in general.…”

Ozone and climate governance: An implausible path dependence

“…The endangered ozone layer was initially framed as one of long term depletion, of a fabric which becomes threadbare. This changed in 1986 when the alarmed discovery of abnormal low ozone over Antarctica led to the reframing of the problem as ozone hole, which added urgency to the definition and perception of the problem (Grevsmühl 2017). The ozone hole focussed attention of policymakers, especially as it came completely unexpected.…”