NASA and NOAA report smallest Antarctic ozone hole in decades

NASA and NOAA reported that the Antarctic ozone hole reached its maximum size of about 20 million square kilometers on September 28, 2024. This size is one of the smallest recorded in decades. The smaller ozone hole reflects the success of international efforts to reduce ozone-depleting chemicals, particularly chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), banned by the Montreal Protocol in 1992. Additionally, strong wind currents brought extra ozone from the north, helping to limit the hole's size. Weather patterns continue to play a significant role in ozone levels over Antarctica.