ozone layer

News is circulating that scientists have found a hole above Earth, most likely referring to the hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica. The story is drawing wide attention online, with viewers in India and elsewhere sharing and commenting on the claim in large numbers, treating it as a striking new scientific discovery about the planet's protective atmosphere.

Scientists are examining why this year's Antarctic ozone hole is unusually large, even though the ozone layer has been recovering since the Montreal Protocol phased out ozone-depleting chemicals. Possible explanations include colder-than-usual polar stratospheric temperatures, atmospheric dynamics and volcanic aerosols, which can widen the annual hole without reversing the long-term recovery trend.