Ozone hole will come close to record

A New Zealand scientist says the ozone hole may not reach record size this year, but it will come very close to it.

The World Meteorological Organisation says the hole now covers an area of approximately 27 million square kilometres.

However the body does not expect the 2003 record measurement of 28 million square kilometres to be broken.

Otago-based NIWA scientist Stephen Wood says the fact the hole is coming so close to its record size is a cause for concern.

He says when the hole breaks up it will contribute to higher ultraviolet over New Zealand.

- NEWSTALK ZB