The ozone hole above Antarctica will keep opening up each spring for decades to come – here’s why that still matters

NASA via Getty Images

At this time of year, as the sun rises over Antarctica, a “hole” opens up in Earth’s ozone layer.

The ozone layer is a vital planetary boundary that protects all life on Earth from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet radiation. But as our research shows, a series of unusual events in recent years caused ozone holes that lasted longer.