NASA: Ozonehole the size of North America (Sep 2007) - "about average"
NASA, 18 Oct 2007 - "Each year, the depleted region in Earth's protective ozone layer over the Antarctic, or "ozone hole," reaches its largest size during a period in September.
Data from a NASA satellite are now in, and images created from the data reveal the extent of the hole in 2007 was about average when compared to measurements from the last few decades."
Note:
- 2007 - maximum area extent = 9.7 million square miles (just larger than the size of North America). Average when compared to the last 15 years.
- 2002, 2004 maximum areas = 8.3 - 8.7 million square miles (weak ozone holes), respectively.
- 2006 maximum area = 11.4 million square miles (record).
- 1970s - hole did not yet exist.
See
NASA: Ozone Hole Watch.