Editing Ozone depletion (section)

=== Increased UV ===
Ozone, while a minority constituent in Earth's atmosphere, is responsible for most of the absorption of UVB radiation. The amount of UVB radiation that penetrates through the ozone layer [[exponential decay|decreases exponentially]] with the slant-path thickness and density of the layer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ozone and You {{!}} Ozone Secretariat |url=https://ozone.unep.org/ozone-and-you |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=ozone.unep.org}}</ref> When stratospheric ozone levels decrease, higher levels of UVB reach the Earth's surface.<ref name=WMO-20Q /><ref>{{cite web |title=Health and Environmental Effects of Ozone Layer Depletion |url=http://www.epa.gov/ozone/science/effects/ |publisher=EPA |access-date=September 26, 2013|date=2013-02-15 }}</ref> UV-driven phenolic formation in tree rings has dated the start of ozone depletion in northern latitudes to the late 1700s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.arm.gov/publications/proceedings/conf12/extended_abs/zuev-vv.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041029142855/http://www.arm.gov/publications/proceedings/conf12/extended_abs/zuev-vv.pdf |archive-date=2004-10-29 |url-status=live |title=Reconstruction of Paleobehavior of Ozonosphere Based on Response to UV-B Radiation Effect in Dendrochronologic Signal |publisher=Atmospheric Radiation Measurement, USA |access-date=May 28, 2016}}</ref>

In October 2008, the [[Ecuadorian Space Agency]] published a report called HIPERION. The study used ground instruments in Ecuador and the last 28 years' data from 12 satellites of several countries, and found that the UV radiation reaching equatorial latitudes was far greater than expected, with the [[UV Index]] climbing as high as 24 in [[Quito]]; the [[WHO]] considers 11 as an extreme index and a great risk to health. The report concluded that depleted ozone levels around the mid-latitudes of the planet are already endangering large populations in these areas.<ref>{{cite report|date=2008|title=The HIPERION Report|url=http://exa.ec/HIPERION-Report_files/The-HIPERION-Report.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231212040/http://exa.ec/HIPERION-Report_files/The-HIPERION-Report.pdf |archive-date=2017-12-31 |url-status=live|publisher=Ecuadorian Civilian Space Agency}}</ref> Later, the CONIDA, the Peruvian Space Agency, published its own study, which yielded almost the same findings as the Ecuadorian study.