science π§ Ozone hole hits big mark early again in 2026
The 2026 Antarctic ozone hole surpassed 15 million km2 earlier than average and grew to about 25 million km2 by mid-September. This development, reported by Copernicus, occurred in the Southern Hemisphere stratosphere. The hole reached 15 million km2 by the end of August 2026, aligning with the 2025 trend. This rapid growth is linked to colder stratospheric temperatures and polar clouds. Scientists are now monitoring this complex interaction to track the ozone layer's long-term recovery.