(Photo Courtesy: Anadolu)
The Antarctic ozone hole expanded rapidly in early September, reaching an estimated 25 million square kilometers, about 5 million square kilometers above the average for this time of year, according to the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service.
Copernicus said the ozone hole initially developed at a typical pace from the second half of August before expanding sharply during the first half of September. Forecasts indicated it could grow further by mid-month.
The rapid expansion was linked to a sudden drop in minimum temperatures in the stratosphere, about 20 kilometers above the South Pole. Extremely cold conditions allow polar stratospheric clouds to form, which contribute to ozone destruction when sunlight returns during the Southern Hemisphere spring.
Despite its larger-than-average area, Copernicus said other indicators, including minimum ozone levels and the overall ozone mass deficit, remained close to historical averages.
The ozone layer shields life on Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation. Human-made ozone-depleting substances caused significant thinning of the layer over previous decades, with the Antarctic particularly vulnerable because of its cold and stable atmospheric conditions.
The Antarctic ozone hole typically develops between August and November before shrinking as temperatures and atmospheric circulation change.
The largest ozone hole on record was measured in 2006, when it covered about 29.6 million square kilometers, according to Copernicus.
