Ozone hole over Antarctica soars to one of its largest sizes on record, Hunga Tonga eruption possible cause

Ozone hole over Antarctica soars to one of its largest sizes on record, Hunga Tonga eruption possible cause

On September 16, 2023, a significantly large ozone hole stretched over Antarctica, covering an area of 26 million km3 (10.04 million mi3), prompting a deeper look into the possible causes. The fluctuating size of the ozone hole is a yearly phenomenon, with a notable increase from August to October, and a decrease as temperatures in the southern hemisphere’s stratosphere rise towards the year’s end.

Deep and larger-than-average Antarctic ozone hole 2021

Deep and larger-than-average Antarctic ozone hole 2021

This year's ozone hole over the southern hemisphere is again deep and larger-than-average due to the colder than usual winter atmosphere over the region. It reached its maximum area on October 7 and ranked as the 13th largest since 1979, according to NASA and…

2020 Antarctic ozone hole one of the largest and deepest in recent years

2020 Antarctic ozone hole one of the largest and deepest in recent years

The 2020 ozone hole over the Antarctic is one of the largest and deepest in recent years, according to scientists with the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). The hole had grown to 23 million square km (8.8 million square miles)– over twice the size of the…

Arctic ozone levels hit record low in March

Arctic ozone levels hit record low in March

An analysis of satellite observations shows that ozone levels over the Arctic hit a record low for the month of March, NASA researchers reported on April 16, 2020. Ozone levels reached their lowest point on March 12 at 205 Dobson units. The depletion was caused by…

Rare ozone hole opens over the Arctic, likely the largest in history

Rare ozone hole opens over the Arctic, likely the largest in history

A huge ozone hole has opened this year over the Arctic. While ozone holes normally form in the Antarctic zone every year because winter temperatures drop to extremely low values, allowing high-altitude clouds to develop– the Arctic has more varying temperatures and…

Rare, unusually large ozone hole develops over the Arctic-Canadian region

Rare, unusually large ozone hole develops over the Arctic-Canadian region

A huge area of sustained ozone depletion has developed over the Arctic-Canadian region — too late for the winter season, too early for spring, and unusually strong for the northern hemisphere. The ozone layer is a natural layer of protective gas in the upper…

Mini ozone hole appears over western Canada

Mini ozone hole appears over western Canada

On February 7, 2018, the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service or CAMS, has successfully predicted the appearance of an ozone mini-hole over western Canada on February 12 or 13. Sudden stratospheric warmings like the one currently in progress have been shown to…

Three decades of measurements show ozone’s ups and downs

Three decades of measurements show ozone’s ups and downs

Climate scientists studying three decades of ozone measurements from seven satellites see a positive trend in global recovery after international efforts to curb ozone-depleting substances. The part of Earth’s atmosphere with high concentrations of ozone gas…

Ozone hole in 2017 the smallest since 1988

Ozone hole in 2017 the smallest since 1988

Measurements from satellites this year showed the hole in Earth’s ozone layer that forms over Antarctica each September was the smallest observed since 1988, scientists from NASA and NOAA announced today. According to NASA, the ozone hole reached its peak…

Calbuco’s eruption expanded ozone hole to record size

Calbuco’s eruption expanded ozone hole to record size

A new study argues that eruption of the Chilean volcano Calbuco on April 22, 2015 stretched the Antarctic Ozone Hole, the thinnest portion of the ozone shell that shields Earth from harmful radiation, to a record size nearly as large as Africa. It did so by ejecting…