The ozone hole at its biggest on October 2 this year (Picture: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center)

There’s a massive hole in the ozone layer – but there’s no need to panic, say experts.

The 28.2 million square km hole was measure on October 2 and is the biggest on record.

But after analysing the hole, Geir Braathen, a senior scientist in WMO’s Atmospheric and Environment Research Division, said: ‘This shows us that the ozone hole problem is still with us and we need to remain vigilant. But there is no reason for undue alarm.

‘The Montreal Protocol is in place and is working well. But we may continue to see large Antarctic ozone holes until about 2025 because of weather conditions in the stratosphere and because ozone depleting chemicals linger in the atmosphere for several decades after they have been phased out.’


The 1987 Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer phased out the most harmful chemicals, like CFCs or chloroflourocarbons, which used to be found in refrigeration and insulation equipment.



As a result of the broad compliance with the Protocol and industry’s development of ozone-friendly substitutes for the now-controlled chemicals, the total global accumulation of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODSs) has slowed and begun to decrease.

Substantial recovery of the ozone layer is expected by the middle of the 21st century, although over the Antarctic it will be later – probably around 2070.