The ozone hole over Antarctica has reached its 2026 maximum extent, ranking as the seventh largest recorded in the 48 years of continuous monitoring of the phenomenon. According to the tracking data, the affected area is among the widest in the historical record, although the ozone loss has not been as deep as that observed in other episodes of large extent.

The distinction between extent and depth is key to interpreting the behaviour of the ozone layer. A wide hole does not necessarily imply more intense destruction of the stratospheric gas: the affected surface area and the amount of ozone lost are independent metrics, and this year combines an elevated extent with a relatively less severe ozone depletion than in the largest holes on record.

Monitoring of the Antarctic ozone hole has continued uninterrupted for 48 years, making it possible to place each season in its historical context and to assess the evolution of the protective layer that filters ultraviolet radiation. Year-on-year comparison helps to distinguish fluctuations driven by stratospheric weather from long-term trends associated with the recovery of the ozone layer.

Continuous surveillance of these episodes is essential to verify the effectiveness of international agreements to protect the ozone layer and to anticipate ultraviolet radiation exposure in the affected regions.