Scientists Report Largest Ozone Hole

The largest ozone hole ever observed has opened up over Antarctica, a sign that ozone-depleting gases churned out years ago are just now taking their greatest toll, NASA scientists reported. This year’s South Pole ozone hole spreads over about 11 million square miles, an area three times larger than the land mass of the United States. Seen in an image released by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the hole appears as a giant blue blob, covering Antarctica and stretching to the southern tip of South America.