Coming Soon: The 2001 Antarctic Ozone Hole

Sometime in the next month, the Antarctic ozone hole is likely to start reappearing -- and making headlines. Typically, stratospheric ozone over the Antarctic starts dropping around mid-August and reaches its lowest levels by late September.

The Natl. Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin. uses satellite instruments to measure stratospheric ozone. You can track the growth of the hole daily and compare it to past years online.

• NOAA: Carmeyia Gillis (301-763-8000 x7163) or Greg Hernandez (202-482-3091)
• The UN's World Meteorological Organization often issues an assessment of the ozone hole by mid-late September. WMO press (Geneva):Taysir M. Al-Ghanem, +41-22-730 8315.
• On Oct. 16-19, 2001, the parties to the Montreal Protocol will meet in Colombo, Sri Lanka: information. UNEP Ozone Secretariat(Montreal treaty info and more): Michael Williams (Geneva, +41-22-917 8242) or Jim Sniffen (212-963-8098).