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Depletion Of Ozone Layer In The Atmosphere And Its Effects
Essay on depletion of ozone layer and global warming
Essay on depletion of ozone layer and global warming
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The depletion of the ozone layer has been a trending topic after it was first discovered in 1970. The ozone layer is a portion of the earth’s stratosphere which absorbs most of the sun’s UV rays hence preventing cancer and other fatal illness to the skin. It contains high concentrations of O3 and at a constant rate is being broken down and. Since 1970, it has been discovered that about 4% of the ozone layer wears off every decade and is as a result of day-to-day human activity.
From the day-to-day use of CFC’s (Chloro fluoro carbons) and other depletion substances the ozone wears off more and more. These substances are referred to as ozone-depleting substances (ODS). They are usually found in chemicals and as a result of causing depletion in the ozone layer, cause skin cancer and disorder in humans and animals as well. CFC’s are used as coolers in refrigerators, and air conditioners. They used to be used in car air conditioners until 1995, when it was discovered the CFS’s were depleting the ozone. Industrially, they are found in solvents and sometimes in dry cleaning agents. Furthermore, cleaning agents, foam insulation and packaging materials are also known to aid in the ozone depletion.
The earth cannot hold life without the ozone, which epitomizes the very opposite of a trivial situation. In the ozone cycle, there are three forms of oxygen present: atomic oxygen, O, molecular oxygen, O2 (oxygen gas) and triatomic oxygen, O3. Photodissociation of the oxygen molecule converts molecular oxygen into two atomic oxygen radicals, which then combine with more O2 molecules to form O3 molecules. These O3 molecules absorbs UV rays thus preventing the risk of cance...
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... measures also help eradicate illegal manufacturers of Ozone Depleting Substances. The topic of Ozone depletion has been a trending one raising heated debates and conservation worldwide. Human activity has been the prime cause of the depletion and thus can be eradicated through human activities in order to conserve it to sustain life. The use of CFC’s have otherwise known as Ozone Depletion Substances have caused patches/ holes in the ozone layer, which protects life from direct ultra-violet rays. The exposure to these rays make humans prone to cancer and other fatal diseases and soon the earth will not be able to sustain life. To curb or totally eradicate this, countries have come together to raise awareness, provide funds and support movements to eliminate Ozone Depletion Substances to make life on earth sustainable to live on and for future generations to come.
The ozone layer is the one that protects living things from the pure ultraviolet rays of the sun.
15.2) The accumulation of chlorofluorocarbons is responsible for depleting the atmospheric zone. The atmospheric zone has changed in concentration due to human activity. The CFCs release chlorine atoms which react with ozone reducing it to molecular O₂. Following chemical reactions release the chlorine which reacts with other ozone molecules in a catalytic chain reaction. The ozone layer is getting thinner and thinner as stable air at places such as Antarctica allows reaction to continue. The accumulation of CFCs has led to increased UV radiation in sunlight reaching the earth thereby decreasing ozone levels. The global temperature has increased.
The initial step in photochemical reactions is the absorption of a photon by an atom, molecule, free radical or ion. The result of this absorption is strongly dependent on the energy, in other word the wavelength of the photon. Visible and ultraviolet portion of the light is required to start the photochemical reactions. The absorption can generate dissociation, internal rearrangement, flourescence, or excited species. Photochemical smog can occur in any environment where there are large and continuous emissions of primary air pollutants. However specifics of climate and geography play an important role in the persistence and severity of the photochemical smog. Two factors influencing the formation of photochemical smog:
“In 2008, 21,000 Canadians died from the effects of air pollution.”(Geduld) Although most of these deaths are from long term exposure to the pollutants there was still “2,682 deaths caused from short term exposure.”(Geduld).“5.5 percent of cardiopulmonary (heart and lung disease related) deaths can be attributed to ground-level ozone exposure, which has increased over the past decade.” (David Suzuki Foundation)
Stratospheric ozone absorbs 97-99% of ultraviolet radiation. As this protective layer continues to dissentigrate, human health will suffer. One American dies every hour from skin cancer, a direct result of ozone depletion by anthropogenic chemicals, primarily CFCs, which damage the ozone layer. Alternate chemicals are now being used in the place of CFCs that will not damage statospheric ozone, and there is international recognition of the importance of developing these chemicals. The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty which limits the production of ozone depleting substances. Still, human health is at risk from the deletion of ozone, and the risk factor will continue to rise unless people and industries become more aware of the implications connected with everyday use of chemicals which destroy stratospheric ozone.
The ozone layer shields the Earth and its inhabitants from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. It absorbs or blocks out 95% of high frequency ultraviolet radiation. The layer is comprised of a molecule called ozone, an electrically charged form of oxygen that is produced when sunlight reacts with chemicals in the air. The ozone molecules have the ability to filter the radiation, allowing only a small fraction of it to pass through (Gribbon 56). The layer is found in the Earth’s stratosphere, with its peak concentration about twenty-five kilometres above the Earth’s surface.
follows: (How do CFCs Destroy the Ozone) Cl + O3 -----> ClO + O2 ClO + O
In 1970, Crutzen first showed that nitrogen oxides produced by decaying nitrous oxide from soil-borne microbes react catalytically with ozone hastening its depletion. His findings started research on "global biogeochemical cycles" as well as the effects of supersonic transport aircraft that release nitrogen oxide into the stratosphere.2 In 1974, Molina and Rowland found that human-made chlorofluorocarbons used for making foam, cleaning fluids, refrigerants, and repellents transform into ozone-depleting agents.3 Chlorofluorocarbons stay in the atmosphere for several decades due to their long tropospheric lifetimes. These compounds are carried into the stratosphere where they undergo hundreds of catalytic cycles with ozone.4 They are broken down into chlorine atoms by ultraviolet radiation.5 Chlorine acts as the catalyst for breaking down atomic oxygen and molecular ozone into two molecules of molecular oxygen.
For the previous 200 years, the industrial revolution’s discovery of fossil fuels reigned supreme. (Benefits of Recycling, History of Alternative Energy) Newly developed factories continued their steady streams of production and our society started becoming larger consumers. To meet the increasing demand, more product had to be made, and this resulted in more waste being emitted into the atmosphere. These gases built up until they caused the ozone layer to thicken to the point where it started trapping the h...
society today. The CFC cans used to be a serious problem to the ozone layer,
In the 21st century, some major issues have emerged along with the advancement of science and technology, ozone layer depletion is one of them. Ozone layer depletion has become a worldwide concern due to the rapid deterioration of the volume of the ozone layer, also for the increasing threat to all living organism and their functions. Increasing uses of CFCs and halocarbons have led to an emergence of various health issues and environmental problems which are in some cases fatal.
The protection of the environment however has just recently become the major issue that it is in today’s society. People worldwide have slowly begun to realize and become aware of the blatant destruction and deterioration of the environment and ozone. As well as the consequences and side affects, that we, as a society have created. The majority of people are just becoming aware of the frightening reality of the situation. As society becomes more informed on the issue of the environment, they too become more impatient, and feel that in the snap of fingers, the damage can be reversed and future damage can be stopped instantaneously.
Air Pollution is when a poisonous or a harmful substance is released in the air. There are many form of pollution but air is one of them, it only occurs when dust, harmful gases or smoke enters into the atmosphere and makes it hard for species like plants, animals and humans to live in a difficult situation because of the dirty air.Air Pollution is classified in two sections, invisible air pollution and visible air pollution.. Hence any substance that makes it difficult for the living things that need the atmosphere is air pollution.Humans have been undergoing air pollution ever since the industrial revolution.In order to understand the causes of Air pollution, it is divided into divisions. Primary air pollutants and secondary air pollutants:
...rbon dioxide, hazardous chemicals, and other pollutants, which can put a hole in the ozone. Also, the usage of some mineral resources can also pollute the air; burning any kind of fuel fossils releases dangerous elements into the air, such as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. All of these kinds of pollution which are caused by the increase of technology, can lead to global environmental problems.
There are lots of environmental issues going on globally. The earth faces problems such as pollution, global warming, waste disposal, and loss of biodiversity. These are just a small amount of issues out of the so many. These environmental problems pose an abundant amount of risk to the health of humans and animals. There needs to be a solution to all these problems and that is by informing others, so that way everyone can make the environment a better place.