Antarctic Ozone Hole 2025. Credit NASA Earth Observatory by Lauren Dauphin
NASA and NOAA say the 2025 Antarctic ozone hole is the 5th smallest since 1992.
The ozone hole over Antarctica was large in area but relatively small compared to many past years, according to NASA and NOAA. It continues to follow the long-term trend toward recovery, expected later this century. In 2025, the hole ranked as the fifth smallest since 1992, when the global phase-out of ozone-destroying chemicals began.
From Sept. 7 to Oct. 13, during the peak of this year’s ozone-loss season, the hole averaged about 7.23 million square miles (18.71 million square kilometers) — roughly twice the size of the contiguous United States. This year’s hole also began to break apart nearly three weeks earlier than what has been typical over the last decade.
A NASA map shows the ozone hole at its largest point in 2025, revealing moderate losses (shown in orange) mixed with areas of stronger depletion (red). Scientists define the “hole” as any region where ozone levels fall below 220 Dobson units.
Image credit: NASA Earth Observatory by Lauren Dauphin, using data courtesy of NASA Ozone Watch and GEOS-5 data from the Global Modeling and Assimilation Office at NASA GSFC
The ozone hole over Antarctica was large in area but relatively small compared to many past years, according to NASA and NOAA.
I was bummed when I initially missed the event,
Great to see the Antarctic ozone hole continuing its recovery trend, ranking as the 5th smallest since 1992. The reduction in ozone-destroying chemicals is yielding positive results, with the hole breaking apart nearly three weeks earlier than usual.
Honestly, it’s wild to think about how big that ozone hole is, but hey, at least it’s getting smaller! Reminds me of when I tried to fix my car—thought it was a tiny patch job but ended up with half the engine out. Anyone else have a similar ‘fix-it’ disaster?
Wow, it’s wild how the ozone hole is finally shrinking a bit, right? I mean, I remember all the doom and gloom predictions about it getting worse—makes you think we might actually be doing something right? If you’re curious, check this out for more science-y goodness https://mimov2.net/.
The 5th smallest ozone hole since 1992 is genuinely encouraging news. It’s fascinating how the earlier breakup—nearly three weeks ahead of the typical timeline—suggests the recovery process is accelerating. The data showing 7.23 million square miles still sounds massive until you realize it represents real progress from the worst years. This kind of measurable improvement from the Montreal Protocol’s phase-out of ozone-destroying chemicals gives me hope that long-term environmental commitments actually work.
Wow, this is genuinely good news to read! I remember how big a deal the ozone hole was when I was growing up, so seeing that 2025 is the 5th
Great news! It’s encouraging to see the ozone hole continuing its recovery trend, ranking as the 5th smallest since 1992. The earlier breakup this year is particularly promising. This progress really shows how international cooperation and policy changes can make a tangible difference for our planet’s health. Thanks for sharing this positive update!
It’s encouraging to see the long-term trend toward recovery holding, with the ozone hole ranking as the fifth smallest since 1992. It gives some hope that environmental policies can indeed make a difference.
It’s encouraging to read that the 2025 ozone hole is the 5th smallest since 1992. The article mentions it continues to track toward recovery, which is a positive sign for the long-term.
It’s genuinely encouraging to see the article mention the ozone hole averaged about 7.23 million square miles, which is the fifth smallest since 1992. This kind of measurable improvement from addressing ozone-destroying chemicals really shows that committed environmental policies can make a difference.
It’s great to see the ozone hole shrinking! I didn’t know it was the 5th smallest since 1992. The fact that it broke apart earlier than usual is also promising. Thanks for sharing this update.
It is encouraging to see the ozone hole following a long-term recovery trend, especially knowing it ranked as the fifth smallest since 1992. The fact that it began breaking apart three weeks earlier than usual is a fascinating detail that shows how much the global phase-out of harmful chemicals is paying off.
This is great news! It’s so encouraging to see tangible evidence that the efforts to phase out ozone-depleting chemicals are actually working. While the hole is still significant in size, the fact that it’s the 5th smallest since 1992 and broke apart earlier than usual is a really positive sign. Thanks for sharing this update, it’s important to keep this information in the public eye and celebrate these successes! The NASA map also really helps visualize the situation.