Explanation:

1. Ozone absorbs sunlight, causing the characteristic decrease in temperature with increase in altitude in the stratosphere:
This statement is correct. Ozone is a gas composed of three oxygen atoms (O3) and is found in the Earth's stratosphere. Ozone molecules in the stratosphere absorb ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun, which causes a temperature increase in the ozone layer. This absorption of UV radiation by ozone prevents most of it from reaching the Earth's surface, protecting life on Earth from harmful UV radiation.

As altitude increases in the stratosphere, the concentration of ozone decreases. This decrease in ozone concentration leads to a decrease in temperature because there are fewer ozone molecules to absorb the sunlight and convert it into heat. Therefore, the characteristic decrease in temperature with increasing altitude in the stratosphere is caused by ozone absorbing sunlight.

2. The vortex is a ring of rapidly circulating air that confines the ozone depletion in the Antarctic region:
This statement is not correct. The vortex is not a ring of rapidly circulating air that confines ozone depletion in the Antarctic region. The correct term for this phenomenon is the "ozone hole."

The ozone hole is a region of exceptionally low ozone concentration in the stratosphere over the Antarctic during the Southern Hemisphere's spring (September to November). It is not caused by a vortex, but rather by chemical reactions involving man-made chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other ozone-depleting substances (ODS). These substances are released into the atmosphere and eventually reach the stratosphere, where they break down ozone molecules.

The formation of the ozone hole is influenced by a combination of factors, including the presence of polar stratospheric clouds, low temperatures, and the unique atmospheric circulation patterns over the Antarctic. The "polar vortex" is a term used to describe the strong, persistent winds that encircle the polar regions, including the Antarctic. It is not the cause of the ozone hole but can contribute to its formation by isolating the Antarctic region and preventing the exchange of air with the rest of the atmosphere.

In conclusion, statement 1 is correct as ozone absorbs sunlight, causing the characteristic decrease in temperature with increasing altitude in the stratosphere. However, statement 2 is not correct as the vortex does not confine ozone depletion in the Antarctic region. The correct term for the phenomenon is the "ozone hole," which is primarily caused by chemical reactions involving ozone-depleting substances and is influenced by various atmospheric factors.