The Ozone Hole 2024

Antarctic Situation at 2024 August 28  British Antarctic Survey Ozone Bulletin

Antarctic ozone today:  The 2024 ozone hole began to appear in late August and has grown rapidly. It now covers 4  million square kilometres (msqkm). The temperature of the ozone layer over Antarctica is near the annual minimum, with air descending over the south pole. The temperature of the ozone layer is warmest over the Southern Ocean and declines towards the equator and pole. The 2024 polar vortex began to form in late April, a little earlier than usual. It has grown and currently has an area of around 30 msqkm, close to the usual area. Within the vortex the temperature is now well below the -78°C Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSC) formation threshold. The area with potential PSCs began to grow from mid May and reached 24 msqkm in late July.  Some warming events then took place around the time when the area is usually at its peak. It is currently around 22 msqkm, close to usual for the time of year. Overall the system remains relatively unstable, with significant wave activity. There are signs that this year we may have a split ozone hole, such as appeared in 2002. Ozone values are a little lower over the continent and higher over the southern ocean. They currently range from a low of around 170 Dobson Units (DU) to a high of nearly 500 DU.

Antarctic Situation at 2024 August 5  British Antarctic Survey Ozone Bulletin

Antarctic ozone today:  The temperature of the ozone layer over Antarctica is nearing the annual minimum, with air descending over the south pole. The temperature of the ozone layer is warmest over the Southern Ocean and declines towards the equator and pole. The 2024 polar vortex began to form in late April, a little earlier than usual. It has grown and currently has an area of around 29 million square kilometres (msqkm), close to the usual area. Within the vortex the temperature is now well below the -78°C Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSC) formation threshold. The area with potential PSCs began to grow from mid May and reached 24 msqkm in late July.  Some warming events then took place and it is currently around 23 msqkm, a somewhat smaller than usual for the time of year. Overall the system remains relatively unstable, with significant wave activity. Ozone values are a little lower over the continent and higher over the southern ocean. They currently range from a low of around 240 Dobson Units (DU) to a high of around 430 DU.

Antarctic Situation at 2024 July 22  British Antarctic Survey Ozone Bulletin

Antarctic ozone today:  The temperature of the ozone layer over Antarctica is nearing the annual minimum, with air descending over the south pole. The temperature of the ozone layer is warmest over the Southern Ocean and declines towards the equator and pole. The 2024 polar vortex began to form in late April, a little earlier than usual. It has grown and currently has an area of around 25 million square kilometres (msqkm), close to the usual area. Within the vortex the temperature is now well below the -78°C Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSC) formation threshold. The area with potential PSCs began to grow from mid May and is currently around 23 msqkm, a little lower than usual for the time of year. Overall the system is relatively unstable, with significant wave activity. Ozone values are a little lower over the continent and higher over the southern ocean. They currently range from a low of around 240 Dobson Units (DU) to a high of around 480 DU.

Antarctic Situation at 2024 July 8

Antarctic Situation at 2024 June 24 British Antarctic Survey Ozone Bulletin

Antarctic ozone today:  The temperature of the ozone layer over Antarctica is falling and air is descending over the south pole. The temperature of the ozone layer is warmest over the Southern Ocean and declines towards the equator and pole. The 2024 polar vortex began to form in late April, a little earlier than usual. It has grown and currently has an area of around 17 million square kilometres (msqkm), a little smaller than usual. Within the vortex the temperature is now below the -78°C Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSC) formation threshold. The area with potential PSCs began to grow from mid May and is currently around 17 msqkm. Overall the system is relatively unstable, with significant wave activity. Ozone values are a little lower over the continent and higher over the southern ocean. They currently range from a low of around 260 Dobson Units (DU) to a high of around 390 DU.