Paul Newman

Stories

Antarctic ozone hole grows to seventh-largest on record as the layer keeps healing

Active; presented the 2026 findings with NOAA

On September 18, the hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica covered 10.5 million square miles, about 90% of the largest single-day extent ever measured. Averaged across the peak depletion season from September 7 to October 13, it was the seventh-largest hole in 48 years of satellite records.

Updated 1 hour ago

Notable Quotes

"The 2026 ozone hole is large but could have been 1 to 2 million square miles larger if ozone-depleting substances were as prevalent in the atmosphere today as they were at their year 2000 peak."

from Antarctic ozone hole grows to seventh-largest on record as the layer keeps healing · Updated 1 hour ago

"The annual ozone hole has been forming later in the season in recent years, which tells us the ozone layer is healing."

from Antarctic ozone hole grows to seventh-largest on record as the layer keeps healing · Updated 1 hour ago