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Energy & Environment

Ozone recovery advances as the global monitoring network shrinks

Antarctic ozone hole was among smallest in decades, but WMO says ability to track long-term recovery is disappearing.

, and Arete News Staff

September 16, 2026 . 12:08 PM

2 min read

Scientists have shown through direct satellite observations of the ozone hole that levels of ozone-destroying chlorine are declining, resulting in less ozone depletion. — Scientists have shown through direct satellite observations of the ozone hole that levels of ozone-destroying chlorine are declining, resulting in less ozone depletion. (NASA)

GENEVA (AN) — The Antarctic ozone hole was one of the smallest in decades last year, but the global network of ground stations used to track the ozone layer's recovery is shrinking, the World Meteorological Organization said.

The 2025 ozone hole ranked as the fourth- or fifth-smallest since severe depletion patterns were first observed in 1992, according to WMO's latest Ozone Bulletin on Wednesday. Both its depth and extent were significantly below the 1990-2010 average for a second consecutive year.

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Energy & Environment — World Meteorological Organization (WMO) — Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer 1989 — Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol 2019 — Polar Regions — Greenland — Japan — Russia

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