India, Sept. 16 -- The 2026 Antarctic ozone hole has surpassed 15 million km2 earlier than average and expanded to about 25 million km2 by mid-September, roughly 5 million km2 above the seasonal norm, Copernicus reports.

While its rapid growth is linked to colder stratospheric temperatures and polar clouds, other indicators remain near historical averages, underscoring complex ozone recovery dynamics.

With September 16 marking the United Nations International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) has found that the 2026 Antarctic ozone hole reached a significant size threshold slightly earlier than average, aligned with 2025. It has also stayed ahead of average, unlike the previ...