Smallest and shortest-lived ozone hole in 5 years closes
The 2025 Antarctic ozone hole closed on 1 December, marking the earliest closure since 2019. This year’s ozone hole was also relatively small for the second consecutive year, especially when compared to the larger and more persistent ozone holes observed between 2020 and 2023. It also exhibited higher ozone concentrations, raising hopes for continued recovery.
The ozone hole reached its peak size in September, covering up to 20 million km², and remaining large through October. In November, it began shrinking quickly, hinting at an early closure. Although a small patch of low ozone lingered, the hole finally closed in early December, one of the earliest closures in the past 40 years.
This visualisation, created using data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), is a 3D rendering of the ozone hole. It shows the maximum extent of the ozone hole over Antarctica in the Southern Hemisphere on 21 September, as well as the situation on 12 December, after the ozone hole had closed.
CAMS continues to support international efforts to preserve the ozone layer by monitoring and providing data on its current state. More information about this particular event can be found here.
