Why aren't scientists worried about ozone layer recovery despite hole becoming larger?

Despite recording the seventh-largest Antarctic ozone hole in 48 years in 2026, scientists say the ozone layer remains on track for recovery. The unusually large hole was driven by a powerful polar vortex, not a reversal of progress. Ozone-depleting chemicals have declined following the 1987 Montreal Protocol, with Antarctic ozone levels expected to return to 1980 levels by the 2070s.