Physical Science Explorations: Ozone

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Ozone is mainly found in the stratosphere, and a small volume of O3 is also found in the troposphere. One of the major roles of the Ozone Layer is to absorb ultraviolet rays from the sun. UV-B rays are quite harmful to living organisms on the Earth, but three oxygen molecules in ozone absorb the energy in the UV light. Ozone is also instrumental in regulating the temperature of the Earth. As UV light energy is absorbed by ozone, the stratosphere heats up; thus, absorbing the heat energy that would otherwise hit the Earth’s surface. Increased volumes of CFCs in the atmosphere develop more free radicals that break down the ozone molecules; thus, depleting the amount of ozone in the stratosphere. This allows more UV-B rays to reach the earth, and this subsequently leads to more harm to the biosphere (“Science: Ozone Basics” par. 1). As more heat energy reaches the earth and more greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere, a greenhouse effect occurs, resulting in global warming. Global warming, on the other hand, has led to various adverse geological changes on the earth, including the rise in sea levels, melting glaciers in different parts of the world, and a disruption in the hydrosphere system of the earth. The depletion of ozone in different parts of the world will increase the current issues in the biosphere, geosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere.

The future should be characterized by a society that is cautious about the number of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. Some parts of the ozone layer have experienced up to 60% depletion, and this has translated into an increase in the number of cases of cancer and other harmful effects on living organisms. Ozone molecules are always being produced; hence, the reduction of CFCs in the atmosphere will ultimately help in the repairing process of the ozone layer (“Ozone Layer Protection – Science” par. 2). Global associations should continue applying restrictions on greenhouse gas emission rates in different nations.

The rank of accuracy among the four students is D, B, A, C. In essence, CFCs are stable molecules, and they are broken down by UV radiations to release chlorine and bromine atoms, which destroy the ozone layer (“The process of ozone depletion” par. 1). CFCs contain hydrogen, chlorine, carbon, and fluorine. Chlorine is particularly dangerous in the stratosphere because it acts as a catalyst in the decomposition of Ozone into oxygen molecules. A single molecule of chlorine in the stratosphere can deplete a very large amount of ozone before it decomposes. This implies that a unit emission of CFC in the atmosphere depletes a very large portion of the ozone layer if it dissociates into free radicals.

Global warming is the steady rise in the temperature of the Earth, which occurs in cycles over time. As far as the history of the earth is concerned, global warming and cooling are natural phenomena, which have occurred over time (Peters par. 2). However, the greenhouse effect has increased the rate of global warming over the past several decades (Lallanila par. 2). The greenhouse effect is a phenomenon that entails an increased CFCs concentration in the atmosphere, which prevents heat from the earth to radiate back to space (“The greenhouse effect” par. 3). The greenhouse gases trap more heat in the earth’s atmosphere, resulting in an increased rate of global warming.