The hole in the ozone layer has never been so small

The ozone layer protects the surface of the Earth from harmful ultraviolet rays. This year, the average hole size in the Earth's protective layer is 9.3 million square kilometers, which is less than the maximum reported in 1998, when this layer reached 25.9 million square kilometers. This year's hole is even smaller than when it was discovered in 1985.

"It's a very good news," said Paul Newman, a NASA scientist. "It involves more ozone in the stratosphere and less ultraviolet radiation on the surface," he added.

The hole reaches its maximum amplitude between September and October and disappears at the end of December until the arrival of the southern spring.

The Montreal Protocol of 1987 – the only United Nations treaty ratified by all the nations of the world – prohibited many elements of chlorine present in refrigerants or aerosols.

The ban has led to a modest reduction in the hole in recent years, but the sharp drop this year has nothing to do with these efforts, explained Newman. "It's just a rarity of the time," said Brian Toon, an atmospheric issues specialist at the University of Colorado.

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