Figure 1. Maximum ozone hole extent over the southern hemisphere, from 1979 to 2024

Copernicus analyses of total ozone column over the Antarctic (Antarctica-centric Map). The blue colours indicate lowest ozone columns, while yellow and red indicate higher ozone columns. Ozone columns are commonly measured in Dobson Units. One Dobson Unit is the number of molecules of ozone that would be required to create a layer of pure ozone 0.01 millimetres thick at a temperature of 0 degrees Celsius and a pressure of 1 atmosphere. 300 DU corresponds to 3 millimetres of ozone. More ozone molecules therefore imply a healthier ozone layer.