Antarctic ozone hole shows signs of recovery amid ongoing UV risks

The Antarctic ozone hole has shown significant signs of recovery, with recent measurements indicating it was among the fourth or fifth smallest recorded since 1992. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the hole’s depth and extent have remained well below the 1990–2010 average for two consecutive years. This trend is attributed to the success of the Montreal Protocol, which phased out ozone-depleting substances like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo noted that the ozone layer has been regenerating since 2000 and a full recovery could be expected within several decades. However, the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) reported that the ozone hole expanded earlier than usual this September, reaching approximately 25 million square kilometers due to low temperatures and polar stratospheric clouds.

Despite the long-term recovery, risks remain. In parts of Europe, UV radiation levels have increased by up to 20 percent since the mid-1990s, partly due to reduced cloud cover, increasing the risk of skin cancer and eye damage. Additionally, monitoring infrastructure is a concern, as the number of ozone monitoring stations has decreased from 130 in the early 2000s to 110 today.