The 2025 Antarctic ozone hole averaged about 7.23 million square miles at its peak and ranks as the fifth-smallest in over 20 years. Scientists attribute the improvement largely to the Montreal Protocol's phase-out of CFCs and related chemicals. Although the hole is closing sooner than the recent average, full recovery of the ozone layer will take several decades and requires continued monitoring and global cooperation.
Antarctic Ozone Hole Shrinks — 2025 Hole Ranks Fifth-Smallest in Over 20 Years, Showing Lasting Impact of Global Action

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