http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-sci-briefs2.1oct02,1,525723.story?coll=la-news-environment

Antarctic Ozone Hole 20% Smaller This Year

From Times Staff and Wire Reports

A gaping hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica appears to have shrunk by about 20% from last year's record size, New Zealand scientists said Friday.

NASA satellite data shows the hole peaked at about 9 million square miles this year, compared with 11 million square miles in 2003.

But Australian scientist Stephen Wood cautioned against reading too much into the hole's smaller size, which he said was also influenced by natural variations.

The hole is caused by Freon and other industrial chemicals containing chlorine and bromine.

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