A Record-Breaking New Ozone Hole

While we've worked to reduce the size of the Antarctic ozone hole, a new bigger hole has formed above the Arctic.

Photo By: NASA Earth Observatory

The Arctic ozone hole, top, on March 19, 2011, and the Antarctic ozone hole, bottom, on Oct. 1, 2011.

Scientists are still struggling to understand why an ozone hole of unprecedented size formed in the early part of 2011 over the Arctic. A team of researchers just published initial research on the topic. While small compared to the Antarctic ozone hole that inspired worldwide action to curb the use of chlorofluorocarbons, a hole in the ozone layer in the Arctic could have more severe consequences. Simply, more people live closer to the North Pole than the South, so more would be affected by stronger UV rays reaching the Earth's surface. For more information, see this Greenpeace commentary.

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