[REVISION HISTORY]

Antarctic ozone hole status and recovery

Updated 1 time since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-09-21 17:04 UTC → 2026-09-21 20:18 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Antarctic ozone hole has shown significant seasonal and long-term fluctuations. In September 2026, the hole expanded rapidly to an estimated 25 million square kilometers, which was approximately five million square kilometers larger than the historical average for that period. However, this seasonal expansion exists within a broader context of gradual recovery. Reports from 2025 indicated the ozone hole reached one of its smallest sizes in two decades, with depth and extent significantly lower than historical averages recorded between 1990 and 2010. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), for the second consecutive year, the hole's size remained significantly below the historical average recorded between 1990 and 2010. This recovery is attributed to ~~increased stratospheric temperatures and international agreements like~~ the success of the Montreal ~~Protocol~~ Protocol, an international treaty signed by 197 countries and the ~~Kigali Amendment, which~~ European Union to phase out ozone-depleting ~~substances.~~ substances like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). The production and consumption of these chemicals have decreased by over 99 percent. While the ozone layer shows signs of steady regeneration, experts suggest full recovery may still take several ~~decades.~~ decades, with some estimates suggesting it could reach full recovery by approximately 2050. Despite these trends, some data indicates that ultraviolet radiation has increased by up to 20 percent in parts of Europe since 1995.

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