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Antarctic Ozone Hole Becomes 7th Largest in History
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What Happened?
The Antarctic ozone hole has reached its seventh-largest size in 48 years, covering about 25 million square kilometers. Scientists attribute this to weather conditions but remain optimistic about recovery.
Key points
- The ozone hole covered an average area of around 25 million square kilometers from September 7 to October 13, 2026.
- At its largest, the hole expanded to approximately 27.1 million square kilometers on September 18, 2026.
- A powerful polar vortex contributed to the hole's size by trapping extremely cold air over Antarctica.
- The Montreal Protocol has helped reduce chlorine levels in Antarctica's upper atmosphere by about a third since the 1980s.
- Scientists expect the Antarctic ozone hole to recover by the 2070s.
Key insights
- The recovery of the ozone layer could lead to reduced skin cancer rates and improved crop yields.
- Continued international cooperation is essential to maintain progress in ozone layer recovery.
- The lingering presence of older ozone-depleting chemicals may slow down the recovery process.
Why it matters
The ozone layer's health is crucial for protecting Earth from harmful UV radiation.
Source
India Today
