The Antarctic ozone hole is one of the largest and deepest in recent years

By David Williams, CNN

Updated 1521 GMT (2321 HKT) October 12, 2020

A NASA false-color view shows the total ozone over the Antarctic pole. The purple and blue colors indicate where the least ozone is, and the yellows and reds are where there is more ozone.
A NASA false-color view shows the total ozone over the Antarctic pole. The purple and blue colors indicate where the least ozone is, and the yellows and reds are where there is more ozone.

(CNN)The ozone hole that typically grows over the Antarctic each September and October has become one of the largest and deepest in recent years -- just one year after scientists recorded its smallest size since it was discovered.

The 2020 ozone hole grew rapidly from mid-August and had grown to about 9.2 million square miles when it peaked in early October, according to a statement from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
The largest-ever Arctic ozone hole developed this spring. Now, scientists say it's closed.
The largest-ever Arctic ozone hole developed this spring. Now, scientists say it's closed.
It then shrank to about 8.9 million square miles -- more than twice the size of the United States -- covering almost the entire Antarctic continent, the agency said.
    The WMO's Global Atmosphere Watch program works closely with the Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service (CAMS), NASA, Environment and Climate Change Canada and other partners to monitor the Earth's ozone layer.
    The ozone layer in our atmosphere protects the Earth from ultraviolet radiation.
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