| IN 1979 | NASA first collected satellite data on ozone levels in 1979.
Source: NASA |
| IN 1998 | The Antarctic ozone hole is recorded at approximately 10.5 million square miles on September 19, 1998. This image shows when chlorine and bromine from human-produced compounds started to contribute to large annual losses of ozone.
Source: NASA |
| IN 2000 | In September 2000, the Antarctic ozone hole was the largest ever recorded -- measuring at approximately 11 million square miles, roughly three times the size of the United States.
Source: NASA |
| IN 2001 | The area of the Antarctic ozone hole in September 2001 peaked at about 10 million square miles, larger than the combined area of the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Source: NASA |
| IN 2002 | The Antarctic ozone hole split into two holes in September 2002, the first time since satellite measurements began more than two decades ago. The dark blue shading indicates the hole, an area with at least 20% less ozone than normal. |
IN Aug/Sep 2003
??? | This year's ozone hole over the Antarctic is much smaller than it was in 2000, according to NASA researchers. They say it is due to peculiar stratospheric weather patterns and does not indicate that the ozone layer is recovering.
Source: NASA |
