"ESA Observes Alarming Expansion of Ozone Hole"

The ozone hole over Antarctica in 2023 is one of the largest on record, reaching a size of 26 million sq km, roughly three times the size of Brazil. The size of the ozone hole fluctuates based on temperature changes in the stratosphere, and this year's unusual ozone patterns may be associated with the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano in January 2022. The ozone hole is largely determined by the strength of a wind band that flows around the Antarctic area, and the variability in size is influenced by the presence of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other ozone-depleting substances. The Montreal Protocol, implemented in 1987, aims to phase out the production and consumption of these harmful substances, leading to a predicted recovery of the ozone layer by around 2050.