Earth ID: 13752

2020 Weather Patterns Push Antarctic Ozone Hole to 12th Largest on Record

Released on October 30, 2020

A cold and stable Antarctic vortex supported the development of the 12th largest ozone hole on record in 2020. The hole reached its peak extent on September 20th at 24.8 million square kilometers.

Ozone-depleting compounds – CFCs – persist in the atmosphere for many decades, interacting with ozone molecules when conditions are favorable. CFCs were controlled by the Montreal Protocol in 1987. Overall, the ozone layer is recovering and we expect the hole to heal by the 2070s.

Ozone-depleting compounds released by humans cause the ozone hole, but cold weather and strong winds drove a larger than average 2020 ozone hole -- the 12th largest in our 40-year record.

Credits

Kathleen Gaeta (GSFC Interns): Lead Producer
Eric Nash (SSAI): Visualizer
Kathryn Mersmann (USRA): Graphics
Paul Newman (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Susan Strahan (USRA): Scientist

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NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

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Keywords:
SVS >> Ozone Hole
SVS >> Ozone depletion
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Atmosphere >> Atmospheric Chemistry/Halons and Halogens >> Chlorofluorocarbons
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Atmosphere >> Atmospheric Chemistry/Oxygen Compounds >> Ozone
SVS >> Stratospheric Ozone
NASA Science >> Earth
SVS >> Montreal Protocol

GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0