(N/A) In the $1980$s,atmospheric scientists working in Antarctica reported the depletion of the ozone layer,commonly known as the ozone hole.
In the summer season,nitrogen dioxide and methane react with chlorine monoxide and chlorine atoms to form chlorine sinks,which prevent significant ozone depletion.
In winter,special types of clouds called polar stratospheric clouds are formed over Antarctica.
These clouds provide a surface on which chlorine nitrate $(ClONO_2)$ gets hydrolysed to form hypochlorous acid $(HOCl)$. It also reacts with hydrogen chloride $(HCl)$ to produce molecular chlorine $(Cl_2)$.
$ClO_{(g)} + NO_{2_{(g)}} \rightarrow ClONO_{2_{(g)}} \quad \dots (IV)$
$\dot{C}l_{(g)} + CH_{4_{(g)}} \rightarrow \dot{C}H_{3_{(g)}} + HCl_{(g)} \quad \dots (V)$
$ClONO_{2_{(g)}} + H_2O_{(g)} \rightarrow HOCl_{(g)} + HNO_{3_{(g)}} \quad \dots (VI)$
$ClONO_{2_{(g)}} + HCl_{(g)} \rightarrow Cl_{2_{(g)}} + HNO_{3_{(g)}} \quad \dots (VII)$
In spring,sunlight returns to Antarctica. The sun's warmth breaks up the clouds,and $HOCl$ and $Cl_2$ are photolysed by sunlight,as given in reactions $(VIII)$ and $(IX)$:
$HOCl_{(g)} \xrightarrow{hv} \dot{O}H_{(g)} + \dot{C}l_{(g)} \quad \dots (VIII)$
$Cl_{2_{(g)}} \xrightarrow{hv} 2\dot{C}l_{(g)} \quad \dots (IX)$
Thus,chlorine radicals are formed,which initiate the chain reaction for ozone depletion.