The hole in the ozone layer is healing, but extreme weather may be slowing progress down

The World Meteorological Organization's latest annual report finds the ozone hole is significantly smaller than its average size between 1990 and 2020, marking the second consecutive year of positive change. However, UCLA professor Suzanne Paulson notes the hole has been healing at a slower rate than scientists previously predicted.

The ozone layer is still far from fully healed, and year-to-year fluctuations are normal; long-term trends require multi-year observation.