Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Who first documented the Antarctic ozone hole in 1985?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Ozone depletion
The Antarctic ozone hole reaches its maximum extent in October of each year. On October 7, 2021, when this image was captured, the Antarctic ozone hole spanned 24.8 million square km (9.6 million square miles).
The Antarctic ozone hole was first documented in 1985 by scientists from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). The researchers responsible for this discovery were Joseph C. Farman, Brian G. Gardiner, and Jonathan D. Shanklin.1
They identified the phenomenon by observing a significant and rapid decrease in total ozone levels over their research station at Halley Bay, Antarctica. Their findings, published in the journal Nature, provided critical validation for earlier theories regarding the impact of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) compounds on the stratosphere. This discovery was instrumental in mobilizing international efforts to protect the ozone layer, ultimately leading to the Montreal Protocol.12