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	Ozone Hole Peaks Below Last Year's Levels By Daniel Sorid Staff Writer posted: 02:19 pm ET 06 October 1999

The hole in the ozone layer above Antarctica this year was smaller than last year's, NASA announced WednesdayThehole in the ozone layer above Antarctica this year was smaller than lastyear's hole, NASA announced Wednesday.

The news follows an announcementlast week which said this year's ozone hole could grow to be the largestever.

However, ozone levels seemed to havereached their low point this year below last year's levels (see graph atright).

Data taken from instruments aboardthe Earth Probe satellite show that the hole peaked at the size of 9.8million square miles (25.48 million square kilometers) on September 15.

In September 1998, the hole measured10.5 million square miles (27.3 million square kilometers).

NASA, which is calling the hole "verylarge," has been measuring ozone levels over the Antarctica since the early1970s.

The ozone layer protects Earth inhabitantsfrom the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation.

In addition to the major depletion,NASA also found a mini-hole in the layer between New Zealand and Antarcticaon September 17.

Scientists believe that a reductionin the use of chlorofluorocarbons, found in some aerosol containers, isturning the tide on the growth of the hole in the ozone layer.

But a more significant factor thisyear is not hair spray, but cold weather. Ice crystals serve as a perchfor chlorine, which destroys the ozone molecules.