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Ozone Depletion

Ozone is a gas composed of three oxygen atoms, primarily found in the stratosphere, where it absorbs harmful UVB radiation. Ozone depletion is mainly caused by human activities involving chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which release chlorine atoms that destroy ozone molecules. The Montreal Protocol was established to phase out substances depleting the ozone layer, as depletion leads to increased UV exposure, adversely affecting human health, materials, and biogeochemical cycles.

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18 views10 pages

Ozone Depletion

Ozone is a gas composed of three oxygen atoms, primarily found in the stratosphere, where it absorbs harmful UVB radiation. Ozone depletion is mainly caused by human activities involving chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which release chlorine atoms that destroy ozone molecules. The Montreal Protocol was established to phase out substances depleting the ozone layer, as depletion leads to increased UV exposure, adversely affecting human health, materials, and biogeochemical cycles.

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katieeitak155
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Ozone depletion

WHAT IS OZONE?
1. O3
2. A gas composed of three atoms of oxygen
3. Bluish gas that is harmful to breathe
4. Nearly 90% of earth’s ozone is in the stratosphere and referred to as the ozone
layer.
5. Ozone absorbs a band of ultraviolet radiation called UVB.
Formation of ozone layer
Ozone (O3) Chemically forms when UV hits on stratosphere Oxygen molecules
dissociate into atomic oxygen .

Atomic oxygen quickly combines with other oxygen molecules to form ozone
OZONE DEPLETION

Ozone layer depletion, is simply the wearing out (reduction) of the amount of ozone in the stratosphere.
Unlike pollution, which has many types and causes, Ozone depletion has been pinned down to one major
human activity. Industries that manufacture things like insulating foams, solvents, soaps, cooling things
like Air Conditioners, Refrigerators and ‘Take-Away’ containers use something called chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs).

Depletion begins when CFC’s get into the stratosphere. Ultra violet radiation from the sun breaks up these
CFCs.

The breaking up action releases Chlorine atoms. Chlorine atoms react with Ozone, starting a chemical
cycle that destroys the good ozone in that area. One chlorine atom can break apart more than 100,000
ozone molecules.
Ozone layer depletion
Montreal Protocol

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was adopted on 16th
September, 1987 at the headquarters of the International Civil Aviation Organization in Montreal.

The Protocol was designed so that the phase out schedules could be revised on the basis of periodic
scientific and technological assessments.
Consequences of ozone layer depletion

Increased UV

Biological effects

Basal and squamous cell carcinoma

Increased tropospheric ozone

Increased production of vitamin D

Effects on animals

Effects on crops

Effects on Plant life


Effects on Human Health

Ozone layer depletion increases the amount of UVB that reaches the Earth’s
surface.

Laboratory and epidemiological studies demonstrate that UVB causes


non-melanoma skin cancer and plays a major role in malignant melanoma
development.

In addition, UVB has been linked to the development of cataracts, a clouding of the
eye’s lens.
Effects on Materials

Synthetic polymers, naturally occurring biopolymers, as well as some other


materials of commercial interest are adversely affected by UVB radiation.
Today's materials are somewhat protected from UVB by special additives.
Yet, increases in UVB levels will accelerate their breakdown, limiting the length of
time for which they are useful outdoors.
Effects on Biogeochemical Cycles

Increases in UVB radiation could affect terrestrial and aquatic biogeochemical


cycles, thus altering both sources and sinks of greenhouse and chemically
important trace gases (e.g., carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbonyl sulfide,
ozone, and possibly other gases).

These potential changes would contribute to biosphere-atmosphere feedbacks


that mitigate or amplify the atmospheric concentrations of these gases.

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