How large is the depletion of the global ozone layer?
The ozone layer has been depleted gradually since 1980 and now is about an average of 3% lower over the globe. The depletion, which exceeds the natural variations of the ozone layer, is very small near the equator and increases with latitude toward the poles. The large average depletion in polar regions is primarily a result of the late winter/spring ozone destruction that occurs there annually.