ozone hole

noun

1. any part of the ozone layer that has become depleted by atmospheric pollution, resulting in excess ultraviolet radiation passing through the atmosphere.

ozone hole

1. A severe depletion of ozone in a region of the ozone layer, particularly over Antarctica and over the Arctic. The depletion is caused by the destruction of ozone by CFCs and by other compounds, such as carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) and carbon tetrafluoride (CF 4 ). The amount of ozone in ozone holes is about 55 to 60 percent of the normal concentration in the ozone layer. Although the full effect of increased ozone depletion is not yet known, the amount of ultraviolet radiation the Earth receives is greatly increased by ozone depletion, creating a heightened risk of skin cancers and likely contributing to global warming.
2. See Note at ozone

ozone hole

1. A depletion of ozone that occurs over Antarctica in the winter. The ozone returns to normal levels in the summer, and the amount of depletion varies from year to year. The hole is thought to be caused by a combination of the peculiarities of atmospheric circulation ( see atmosphere ) near the South Pole and chemical reactions involving chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere and ice crystals in clouds .

Word History and Origins

Origin of ozone hole¹

First recorded in 1985–90

Example Sentences

Climate change biologist Prof Sharon Robinson told BBC News: "When I tell people I work on the ozone hole, they go: 'oh, isn't that better now?'"

From BBC

A 2022 United Nations assessment concluded that the ozone layer, including an ozone hole over the Antarctic, will be largely restored over the next several decades.

From Science Daily

Lead author Hannah Kessenich, PhD candidate in the Department of Physics, says they found there is much less ozone in the centre of the ozone hole compared to 19 years ago.

From Science Daily

With last year’s undersea volcano injecting massive amounts of water high into the atmosphere, scientists were bracing for a big Antarctica ozone hole this fall.

From Seattle Times

The ozone hole was a big coordination problem.

From Scientific American