The ozone layer over the Arctic thinned out by 20 percent during January this year, a smaller loss than during eight of the last 11 winters, United Nations climate experts said.
"Chemical reactions triggered a 20 percent loss in the ozone layer over the Arctic in January 2006 - a reduction exacerbated by colder stratospheric temperatures during that month," the WMO said in statement.
The agency added that since the winter of 1993-1994, eight winters had seen more severe ozone loss over the Arctic than this year and on three occasions the loss had been less.
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