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

摘要

In 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 environmental issues of the twentieth century, the ozone hole is also a remarkable metaphorical, visual, and imaginary construction. This essay examines the historical trajectory of 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.