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Why did Paul Crutzen, Mario Molina, and F. Sherwood Rowland receive the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry?
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Ozone depletion
The Antarctic ozone hole reaches its maximum extent in October of each year. On October 7, 2021, when this image was captured, the Antarctic ozone hole spanned 24.8 million square km (9.6 million square miles).
Paul Crutzen, Mario Molina, and F. Sherwood Rowland were awarded the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their pioneering research on the depletion of the Earth’s ozone layer, which protects the planet from harmful ultraviolet radiation.12
Their contributions included:
- Paul Crutzen: In 1970, he demonstrated that nitrogen oxide compounds accelerate the destruction of stratospheric ozone. He discovered that naturally produced nitrous oxide rises into the stratosphere, where it is split by solar energy into reactive compounds that catalytically break down ozone.2
- Mario Molina and F. Sherwood Rowland: In 1974, they discovered that man-made chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gases decompose in the stratosphere due to solar radiation. This process releases chlorine atoms that destroy large numbers of ozone molecules.12
Their collective work provided the scientific foundation for understanding how human activity impacts the atmosphere, ultimately leading to international agreements like the Montreal Protocol to ban ozone-depleting substances.12