NASA and NOAA reported this week that atmospheric conditions contributed to a larger Antarctic ozone hole in 2026. The agencies said the ozone layer remains on a long-term path to recovery despite this year’s increase.
The annual hole is an area of unusually low ozone over Antarctica. Conditions in the polar atmosphere vary from year to year, so scientists compare observations over many seasons to assess the broader trend.
The agencies’ 2026 report explains the difference between this season’s conditions and the longer recovery trend. NASA also maintains a visual record of earlier seasons for comparison.