Ozone Depletion 🍂
The earth’s atmosphere is composed of many layers, each playing a significant role. The first layer stretching approximately 10 kilometers upwards from the earth’s surface is known as the troposphere. A lot of human activities such as gas balloons, mountain climbing, and small aircraft flights take place within this region.
The stratosphere is the next layer above the troposphere stretching approximately 15 to 60 kilometers. The ozone layer sits in the lower region of the stratosphere from about 20-30 kilometers above the surface of the earth. The thickness of the ozone layer is about 3 to 5 mm, but it pretty much fluctuates depending on the season and geography.
Ozone layer is a deep layer in earth’s atmosphere that contain ozone which is a naturally occurring molecule containing three oxygen atoms. These ozone molecules form a gaseous layer in the Earth’s upper atmosphere called stratosphere. This lower region of stratosphere containing relatively higher concentration of ozone is called Ozonosphere. The Ozonosphere is found 15-35 km (9 to 22 miles) above the surface of the earth.
The ozone layer forms a thick layer in stratosphere, encircling the earth, that has large amount of ozone in it. The ozone layer protects life on earth from strong ultraviolet radiation that comes from the sun. Ultraviolet rays are harmful rays that can drive up the risk of deadly disorders like skin cancer, cataracts and damage the immune system. Ultraviolet rays are also capable of destroying single cell organism, terrestrial plant life, and aquatic ecosystems.
People began to value the importance of the ozone layer when scientists released a research finding suggesting that certain human-made chemicals known as chlorofluorocarbons managed to reach the stratosphere and depleted the ozone via a profound series of chemical reactions. The results of this research study prompted the signing of a global treaty known as the Montreal Protocol in 1973. This treaty helped in the reduction of the production of these harmful human-made chemicals.
These targeted efforts have seen the ozone layer recovering over the past years. The thickness of the ozone layer varies immensely on any day and location. Due to relentless vertical atmospheric air circulation in both the stratosphere and troposphere, the amount of ozone layer shielding humans from strong UV rays can be lesser or greater. In addition, those residing in higher elevations are at risk of UV radiation than those at lower elevations.
Main Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS)
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
It’s billed as the most extensively utilized ozone-depleting substance because it attributes to more than 80% of overall ozone depletion. It was utilized as a coolant in home appliances like freezers, refrigerators and air conditioners in both buildings and cars that were manufactured prior to 1995. This substance is usually contained in dry cleaning agents, hospital sterilants, and industrial solvents. The substance is also utilized in foam products like mattresses and cushions and home insulation.
Hydrofluorocarbons (HCFCs)
Hydrofluorocarbons have over the years served in place of Chlorofluorocarbons. They are not as harmful as CFCs to ozone layer.
Halons
It’s especially used in selected fire extinguishers in scenarios where the equipment or material could be devastated by water or extinguisher chemicals.
Carbon Tetrachloride
Also used in selected fire extinguishers and solvents.
Methyl Chloroform
Commonly utilized in industries for cold cleaning, vapor degreasing, chemical processing, adhesives and some aerosols.
Serious Effects of Ozone Depletion
Damage to human health
If the ozone layer is depleted, it means humans will be overly exposed to strong UV light. Overexposure to strong UV light causes skin cancer, cataracts, sunburns, weakening of immune system and quick aging.
Devastation to environment
Many crops species are vulnerable to strong UV light and overexposure may well lead to minimal growth, photosynthesis and flowering. Some of the crop species vulnerable to UV light include barley, wheat, corn, oats, rice, broccoli, tomatoes, cauliflower just to name a few. Forests equally bear the brunt of ozone depletion.
Threat to marine life
Certain marine life, especially planktons, is greatly impacted by exposure to strong ultraviolet rays. In the aquatic food chain, planktons appear high up. If planktons decrease in number due to ozone layer destruction, the marine food chain would be disrupted in many ways. Also, overexposure of sun rays could reduce the fortunes of fishers. On top of that, certain species of marine life have been greatly affected by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation at their early stage.
Effect on animals
In domesticated animals, too much Ultraviolet radiation could also lead to skin and eye cancer.
Impacts certain materials
Materials like plastics, wood, fabrics, rubber are massively degraded by too much ultraviolet radiation
The stratosphere is the next layer above the troposphere stretching approximately 15 to 60 kilometers. The ozone layer sits in the lower region of the stratosphere from about 20-30 kilometers above the surface of the earth. The thickness of the ozone layer is about 3 to 5 mm, but it pretty much fluctuates depending on the season and geography.
Ozone layer is a deep layer in earth’s atmosphere that contain ozone which is a naturally occurring molecule containing three oxygen atoms. These ozone molecules form a gaseous layer in the Earth’s upper atmosphere called stratosphere. This lower region of stratosphere containing relatively higher concentration of ozone is called Ozonosphere. The Ozonosphere is found 15-35 km (9 to 22 miles) above the surface of the earth.
The ozone layer forms a thick layer in stratosphere, encircling the earth, that has large amount of ozone in it. The ozone layer protects life on earth from strong ultraviolet radiation that comes from the sun. Ultraviolet rays are harmful rays that can drive up the risk of deadly disorders like skin cancer, cataracts and damage the immune system. Ultraviolet rays are also capable of destroying single cell organism, terrestrial plant life, and aquatic ecosystems.
People began to value the importance of the ozone layer when scientists released a research finding suggesting that certain human-made chemicals known as chlorofluorocarbons managed to reach the stratosphere and depleted the ozone via a profound series of chemical reactions. The results of this research study prompted the signing of a global treaty known as the Montreal Protocol in 1973. This treaty helped in the reduction of the production of these harmful human-made chemicals.
These targeted efforts have seen the ozone layer recovering over the past years. The thickness of the ozone layer varies immensely on any day and location. Due to relentless vertical atmospheric air circulation in both the stratosphere and troposphere, the amount of ozone layer shielding humans from strong UV rays can be lesser or greater. In addition, those residing in higher elevations are at risk of UV radiation than those at lower elevations.
Main Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS)
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
It’s billed as the most extensively utilized ozone-depleting substance because it attributes to more than 80% of overall ozone depletion. It was utilized as a coolant in home appliances like freezers, refrigerators and air conditioners in both buildings and cars that were manufactured prior to 1995. This substance is usually contained in dry cleaning agents, hospital sterilants, and industrial solvents. The substance is also utilized in foam products like mattresses and cushions and home insulation.
Hydrofluorocarbons (HCFCs)
Hydrofluorocarbons have over the years served in place of Chlorofluorocarbons. They are not as harmful as CFCs to ozone layer.
Halons
It’s especially used in selected fire extinguishers in scenarios where the equipment or material could be devastated by water or extinguisher chemicals.
Carbon Tetrachloride
Also used in selected fire extinguishers and solvents.
Methyl Chloroform
Commonly utilized in industries for cold cleaning, vapor degreasing, chemical processing, adhesives and some aerosols.
Serious Effects of Ozone Depletion
Damage to human health
If the ozone layer is depleted, it means humans will be overly exposed to strong UV light. Overexposure to strong UV light causes skin cancer, cataracts, sunburns, weakening of immune system and quick aging.
Devastation to environment
Many crops species are vulnerable to strong UV light and overexposure may well lead to minimal growth, photosynthesis and flowering. Some of the crop species vulnerable to UV light include barley, wheat, corn, oats, rice, broccoli, tomatoes, cauliflower just to name a few. Forests equally bear the brunt of ozone depletion.
Threat to marine life
Certain marine life, especially planktons, is greatly impacted by exposure to strong ultraviolet rays. In the aquatic food chain, planktons appear high up. If planktons decrease in number due to ozone layer destruction, the marine food chain would be disrupted in many ways. Also, overexposure of sun rays could reduce the fortunes of fishers. On top of that, certain species of marine life have been greatly affected by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation at their early stage.
Effect on animals
In domesticated animals, too much Ultraviolet radiation could also lead to skin and eye cancer.
Impacts certain materials
Materials like plastics, wood, fabrics, rubber are massively degraded by too much ultraviolet radiation
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