Bizarre polar vortex over Antarctica delayed ozone hole opening, scientists say

Visualization of the polar vortex over Antarctica. The vortex of winds is elongated and colored yellow-green against a blue map.

Sudden and rare warming events in Antarctica may have delayed the arrival of the ozone hole that appears above the frozen continent every year, scientists say.

These warming events likely impacted a swirl of winds known as the southern polar vortex, which in turn affected the ozone hole's formation, the researchers say.