Satellite maps of Antarctic total ozone

Satellite remote sensing techniques for ozone have made it possible to observe the detailed, daily horizontal structure of atmospheric ozone at all locations where sunlight is present. The Antarctic ozone 'hole' has been observed with the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) instrument since launch of Nimbus 7 in 1978. This feature is a continental-size ozone minimum found in the Antarctic winter and spring seasons which has generally deepened in recent years to levels in 1985 and 1987 far below the lowest values ever observed elsewhere. The minimum appears to be produced by atmospheric circulations, but the deepening almost certainly involves chemistry which is unique to cold, dark conditions.