What you learned in school
Environmental science textbooks initially described the ozone hole as a localized phenomenon affecting only Antarctica, far from populated areas. Students learned about it as a remote problem with little relevance to their daily lives or global health. The focus was on the Antarctic ozone depletion as an isolated scientific curiosity rather than a worldwide environmental threat. Textbooks presented it as a regional atmospheric anomaly that would remain confined to the polar region.
What we know now
Environmental science textbooks initially described the ozone hole as a localized phenomenon affecting only Antarctica. Students learned about it as a remote problem with little global impact. While the largest ozone depletion occurs over Antarctica, ozone thinning affects the entire globe. UV radiation increases worldwide due to overall ozone reduction. The Antarctic ozone hole influences global atmospheric circulation and weather patterns. Ozone-depleting chemicals spread throughout the atmosphere, affecting ozone layers everywhere. The problem had global implications for human health and ecosystems, not just Antarctic effects.