2024 Antarctic Ozone Hole Ranked 7th Smallest Since Recovery Initiated

NASA and NOAA report steady progress in ozone layer healing, projecting full recovery by 2066.

The 2024 ozone hole over Antarctica was nearly three times the size of the contiguous U.S., peaking at 8.5 million square miles.
Decline in chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and air currents from the north contributed to the smaller ozone hole this year.
The Montreal Protocol, signed in 1987, has been instrumental in reducing CFC emissions, aiding ozone recovery.
Ozone depletion allows more harmful UV radiation, increasing risks like skin cancer and cataracts, and harming ecosystems.
Current ozone levels are still below the pre-1979 average, indicating further recovery is necessary to reach historical norms.