Nasa reports that the hole over Antarctica had reached a record size of about 11m square miles by September 3. Scientists say the hole has stopped growing this year in area but the levels of ozone within are continuing to fall. The lowest readings are usually at the end of September or early October. Lower levels of ozone are linked to increases in skin cancer and cataracts. There is also fear that ultraviolet radiation could harm plants and microbes.
Ozone is an unstable form of oxygen actually created by ultraviolet light.
These observations reinforce concerns about the frailty of earth's ozone layer. Although production of ozone-destroying gases has been curtailed under international agreements, concentrations of the gases in the stratosphere are only now reaching their peak. Most atmospheric ozone is found between six miles and 18 miles above the earth's surface. Scientists continuing to investigate this enormous hole are somewhat surprised by its size. At this point we can only wait to see how the ozone hole will evolve in the coming few months.