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Antarctic ozone hole reaches 25 million square kilometers FAST-MOVING
The Antarctic ozone hole expanded rapidly in the first half of September 2026, reaching an estimated 25 million square kilometers by September 12. This size is approximately five million square kilometers larger than the historical average for this period. While the area has grown sharply, other indicators such as the minimum ozone column value and ozone mass deficit have remained near average levels.
Despite this seasonal expansion, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) notes that the ozone layer is on a long-term recovery path. The ozone hole in 2025 was among the smallest recorded since the early 1990s, marking the second consecutive year where both horizontal extent and vertical depth were significantly below the 1990-2010 average. WMO Chief Celeste Saulo described the ongoing recovery since 2000 as a 'success story in environmental protection,' attributing the progress to the 1987 Montreal Protocol which phased out harmful chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
Entities
Antarctica · Celeste Saulo · Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service · Deutscher Wetterdienst · Dominik Jung · European Space Agency · Germany · Italy · Laurence Rouil · Montreal Protocol · Paolo Laj · World Meteorological Organization
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Extreme weather events are expected to occur in bursts rather than every single year.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A warm air mass from Southwest Europe is expected to reach Germany, bringing temperatures near 30 degrees Celsius. www.kreiszeitung.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Climate expert Dominik Jung states that the summer of 2026 was a warning of extreme weather shifts.
- [● 8 SOURCES] The ozone hole over the Antarctic in 2025 was among the smallest recorded since the early 1990s. www.halternerzeitung.de · www.marler-zeitung.de · www.nn.de · www.muensterlandzeitung.de · www.nordbayern.de · +1 more
- [● 8 SOURCES] UV radiation in parts of Europe has increased by up to 20 percent since the mid-1990s. www.halternerzeitung.de · www.marler-zeitung.de · www.nn.de · www.muensterlandzeitung.de · www.nordbayern.de · +1 more
- [● 8 SOURCES] The ozone layer has been recovering since 2000 and is expected to fully recover within a few decades. www.halternerzeitung.de · www.marler-zeitung.de · www.nn.de · www.muensterlandzeitung.de · www.nordbayern.de · +1 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] The reduction of harmful substances like CFCs is attributed to the 1987 Montreal Protocol. www.halternerzeitung.de · www.marler-zeitung.de · www.nn.de · www.muensterlandzeitung.de · www.nordbayern.de · +2 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Antarctic ozone hole reached approximately 25 million square kilometers in the first half of September 2026. montecristinoticias.com · cnn.iprima.cz · www.innovationnewsnetwork.com
- [● 6 SOURCES] The ozone layer has been recovering since 2000 and is expected to reach full recovery within a few decades. www.halternerzeitung.de · www.marler-zeitung.de · www.nn.de · www.diariodenavarra.es
- [● 6 SOURCES] The recovery of the ozone layer is attributed to the success of the 1987 Montreal Protocol. www.halternerzeitung.de · www.marler-zeitung.de · www.nn.de · www.diariodenavarra.es
- [● 6 SOURCES] In 2025, the ozone hole's horizontal extent and vertical depth were both significantly below the 1990-2010 average for the second consecutive year. www.halternerzeitung.de · www.marler-zeitung.de · www.nn.de · www.diariodenavarra.es
- [● 2 SOURCES] The size of the ozone hole in September 2026 was about five million square kilometers above the period average. montecristinoticias.com · cnn.iprima.cz