Map showing the extent of the Antarctic ozone hole and it's changing position over the South Pole over a 30 year period. The data begins in 1984 when the hole was discovered. Each year's maximum area with a recorded value below 220 Dobson Units is shown. From the late 1970s to the early 21st century the amount of ozone over the Antarctic decreased due to atmospheric pollution by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and similar compounds. These substances were phased out from the late 1980s to the mid 1990s, but the damage to the ozone didn't peak until 2006. The level of ozone depletion has now stabilised.