2025 Antarctic ozone hole shrinks to 5th smallest since '92
This year's Antarctic ozone hole was the fifth smallest recorded since 1992, peaking at 8.83 million square miles in September—about double the size of the contiguous United States.
Closed early, thanks to global action
The hole closed nearly three weeks earlier than usual, partly because of a weaker polar vortex and warmer temperatures.
NASA and NOAA say that without bans on ozone-harming chemicals, it would have been over a million square miles bigger.
Montreal Protocol: still making a difference
The shrinking ozone hole shows how global teamwork pays off.
The Montreal Protocol (signed way back in 1987) has cut stratospheric chlorine by about one-third since its peak around 2000.
Why does this matter?
A healthy ozone layer shields us from dangerous UV rays that can cause skin cancer and harm crops.
Scientists expect full recovery by the late 2060s—proof that collective action really can help heal our planet.