Widening ozone hole is as big as Europe

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2005

PARIS (AFP) — The seasonal ozone hole over Antarctica has widened sharply this year, making it the biggest hole since 2000 and the third largest on record, according to measurements reported by the European Space Agency (ESA).

Data sent back ESA's Earth-monitoring satellite Envisat showed the hole had swollen to an area of 10 million square kilometers (3.86 million miles) in mid-August, approximately the same size as Europe.

The hole is likely to expand further before reaching its maximum in September, ESA said in a press release.

"This year's hole is large for this time of year, based on results from the last decade. Only the ozone holes of 1996 and 2000 had a larger area at this point in their development," it said.

Ozone, a molecule of oxygen, is...