ozone layer depletion

ozone layer depletion

What is the ozone layer

Layers of atmospheres cover Earth. There are four main layers of the atmosphere, which are troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere. The ozone layer is contained in the stratosphere layer, a distance of between fifteen to twenty kilometers from the Earth’s surface. The ozone layer provides a high level of ozone (O₃) concentration. The ozone molecule is characterized by a strong scent and blue. In ten million units of air, only three are ozone, making ozone to be a rare molecule compared to other gases such as oxygen. For oxygen in ten million molecules of air, there are two million molecules of oxygen.

The thickness of the ozone layer is measured in Dobson units, which is denoted as (DU), where 1mm = 100 DU. The standard thickness of the ozone layer is three millimeters, which is 300 DU. However, the more thickness of the ozone layer, the better. In spite of the small percentage of ozone molecules in the Earth’s atmosphere, the ozone molecule is essential for life in the atmosphere. Stratospheric ozone, also called good ozone, absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun from reaching the Earth’s surface. The absorption of ultraviolet rays by the ozone creates a source of heat that forms the stratosphere layer. In the stratosphere region, as one rises to higher altitudes, the temperature rises. Ozone regulates the temperature structure of the Earth’s atmosphere. The weakening of the ozone shield will make more humans susceptible to skin cancer, impaired immune system, and cataract. In the troposphere, the ozone is a harmful pollutant that causes damages to plants and tissues

Creation of the ozone layer

Ultraviolet radiation creates Stratosphere ozone. When high-level energy of ultraviolent rays strikes oxygen molecules. The oxygen molecule split into two single oxygen atoms. One freed oxygen atom then combines with another oxygen molecule to form an ozone molecule. Due to the high concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere, the high energy ultraviolet rays are quickly absorbed in the stratosphere. When an ozone molecule absorbs even a low energy ultraviolent rays, it splits into an ordinary oxygen molecule and a free oxygen atom, which quickly rejoins another oxygen molecule to form an ozone molecule. Due to the ozone-oxygen cycle, harmful ultraviolent radiations is continuously converted into heat.

Causes of Ozone Layer Depletion

Ozone depletion is the thinning of the ozone layer. Pollutants from manufactured chemicals mainly cause ozone depletion. Reactions other than ozone and oxygen cycle affect the concentration of ozone in the stratosphere. Because ozone and free oxygen atoms are highly unstable, they quickly react with hydrogen, nitrogen, chlorine, and bromine compounds found in Earth’s atmosphere. The human-made chemical contains chlorine and bromine. These chemicals are referred to as Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS). Ozone-depleting substances are stable, eco-friendly, and non-toxic at the earth’s surface. Hence, the ODS gained popularity over the years. However, ODS remains static and float at the stratosphere. While in the stratosphere,  by high energy ultraviolet rays break ODS to chlorine and bromine.

When chlorine or bromine atom comes into contact with ozone in the stratosphere, they destroy the ozone molecule. Chlorine and bromine deplete the ozone layer at a supersonic speed, where one chlorine atom can destroy over 100,000 ozone molecules before it is removed from the atmosphere. Chlorine depletes the ozone by stripping one atom from the ozone molecule. Bromine atom is 40 times more destructive to the Ozone layer than Chlorine atom. Consuming ozone substances that release chlorine include chlorofluorocarbons, methyl chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, and hydrochlorofluorocarbons. ODS that emit bromine include halons and methyl bromide.

In the case of halons, most of the governments have regulated the usage of their applications since they are available in specific extinguishers. Halons are very pollutant since they destroy the ozone layer ten times more than any other ODS. Chlorofluorocarbons are the leading ODS since it is extensively used by humans and has contributed to 80% of the depletion of the ozone layer. Chlorofluorocarbon is a coolant in home electronics such as refrigerators and freezers, also, in air conditioners of houses and cars that were manufactured before 1995. Besides, chlorofluorocarbon is present in most dry cleaning agents, industrial solvents, and hospital disinfectants.

Moreover, chlorofluorocarbons are used in foam products such as cushions and mattresses, and home insulation products. Chlorofluorocarbons are highly utilized in products for substances often used by humans. Therefore high amounts of it is emitted in the atmosphere. Carbon tetrachloride is being used in fire extinguishers and solvents, while methyl chloroform is mainly used in industries for cold washing, mist degreasing, chemical processing, adhesives, and some aerosols.

ODS is carried to the stratosphere through a process that takes approximately two to five years. Most of the chemicals from ODS  humans emit to the atmosphere will contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer in the future.

Natural phenomena such as volcanic eruption and stratospheric winds and sun-spots are known to contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer. Volcanic eruption produces large amounts of tiny bits of aerosols. The aerosols increase the effectiveness of chlorine at destroying the ozone layer. However, aerosols’ effect on the ozone layer may not be as high as the ODS since their impact is temporary. Also, natural phenomena only deplete one or two percent of the ozone layer.

Effects of depletion

The depletion of the ozone layers means that human beings and plants will be exposed to harmful ultraviolet rays. Exposure to harmful ultraviolet radiation will highly detriment the health of human beings. Thus, there will be high cases of skin cancer, sunburns, quick aging, cataract, and weakened immune system, which makes one prone to any disease. Most of the crops, vegetation, and forests are vulnerable to harmful ultraviolet rays. Exposure to the rays will lead to stunt growth, lack of photosynthesis, and flowering. Some of the plants highly susceptible to UV rays are rice, wheat, cauliflower, broccoli, oats, tomatoes, and corns.

Harmful ultraviolet rays also impact marine life, mainly planktons. The productivity of planktons is dependent on the upper layer of water bodies in which there is sufficient sunlight to support their productivity. Most of the aquatic animals depend on planktons for survival. Therefore, the depletion of the plankton due to their exposure to the UV rays will profoundly disrupt the marine food chain. Thus most marine animals will die due to lack of food. Also, the life of young marine species will be affected if overexposed to intense ultraviolet rays. A domesticated and wild animal will also be affected and likely to suffer from eye and skin cancer. Harmful ultraviolet rays also affect plastics, woods, fabrics, and rubber since the rays degraded them.

The solution to the depletion of the ozone layer

They say prevention is better than cure. Hence prevention strategies will help reduce the consumption of the ozone layer. The government should come up with policies such as discouraging the use of private cars. According to statics, there are about 276 million cars in the United States by 2019. Cars emit carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that later forms smog. Smog is a catalyst that enhances the depletion of the ozone layer. Therefore, the states should encourage their citizens to use commuter rails. Also, they can limit the use of private cars by encouraging people to use electric, hybrid, and fuel-efficient vehicles.

The public should be regulated on the use of pesticides on their farms. Pesticides are used to get rid of pests and weeds in the farms. However, pesticides contribute highly to the depletion of ozone layers since they contain aerosols and chlorine, which are ODS. Farmers should, therefore, be encouraged to use natural methods while getting rid of weeds, such as uprooting and better farming practices. Also, farmers should use eco-friendly chemicals to get rid of the pests. Good farming practices will enable the future generation don’t suffer from the depletion of the ozone layer.

Cleaning household products are filled with harsh chemicals and aerosols that find their way into the atmosphere. Cleaning products, whether in households or hospitals or industries, are quite a pollutant due to the chlorine agents in them. Therefore, the use of environment-friendly and natural cleaning products during the cleaning process should help reduce the chemicals in the atmosphere.

Conclusion

The ozone layer is the stratosphere atmosphere thirty kilometers from the Earth’s surface. The ozone layer is composed of ultraviolet rays and ozone gases. The ozone layer creates a protective shield from the harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun from reaching the Earth’s surface. The ozone layer in the past decade’s ozone layer has been depleting wherein the Polar Regions there are ozone holes. The depletion of the ozone layer mainly contributes to chlorine and bromine gases when they react with ozone molecules. Chlorine and bromine gases are mostly human-made chemicals and products. Also, from natural phenomena such as volcanic eruptions and stratospheric winds. Intense ultraviolet rays are harmful to human beings, plants, marine life, and materials such as wood. The depletion of the ozone layer can lead to the death of most organs. Better policies should be put in place to curb the utilization of products and processes that enhance the emission of chlorine and bromine gases. In the ozone layer, the depletion process is fast than the creation process.