Category: Ozone

The Receding Ozone Layer

The ozone layer above the Earth is in fact disappearing and has been thinning since 1970. The ozone layer is a layer above the Earth that protects us from ultraviolet rays which cause cancer, and could potentially kill a human. Ultraviolet rays also affect animal and plant kingdoms. According to National Geographic, ”The ozone layer is a thin part of the Earth’s atmosphere that absorbs almost all of the sun’s ultraviolet rays.’ The ozone hole was discovered in 1985 above the North Pole by Jon Shanklin, Brian Gardiner, and Joe Farman. According to NASA, the ozone hole has been recovering.

In fact, chlorofluorocarbons, have been proven to deplete the ozone layer. Chlorofluorocarbons are “Any class of compounds of carbon, hydrogen, chlorine, and fluorine, gases typically used in refrigerants and aerosol propellants. They are harmful to the ozone layer in the earth’s atmosphere owing to the release of chlorine atoms upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation.”(Dictionary.com) Chlorofluorocarbons were first proven to destroy ozone by Sherwood Rowland, ”When the molecule of chlorine monoxide (ClO) meets another molecule of oxygen (O) it breaks up, releasing chlorine (Cl), which can “destroy” another molecule of ozone (O3), creating the catalytic cycle of chlorine. They break up only through sunlight, which divides their molecules, causing the release of chlorine (Cl). Once the chlorine is released, it is able to react with ozone (O3), to form chlorine monoxide (ClO) and oxygen”(“How Do CFCs Destroy the Ozone Layer?”). Without a doubt, CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) damage the ozone layer. Research shows that chlorofluorocarbons destroy ozone molecules faster than they can naturally be produced.

Sadly, humans keep opening doors to new ozone-depleting substances. For example, people keep manufacturing products that contain chemicals that are harmful to the ozone layer, such as hairspray. Over time, these ODS(ozone-depleting substances) have slowly deteriorated the ozone layer. Clearly, ultraviolet is harmful in more ways than one, and not only to humans. Due to hydrofluorocarbons, chlorofluorocarbons, halons, and nitrous oxide, the ozone layer has depleted by 20%. Therefore, making our chances of survival in the future, for humans and other organisms diminish greatly.

Preventing the Use of chlorofluorocarbons

Preventing any use of chlorofluorocarbons will help improve the status of the ozone layer as CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) have proven to be the main cause of ozone depletion. As of now, the ozone layer has depleted by about 20%, and 90% is due to CFCs. CFCs destroy ozone by stealing an oxygen atom from an ozone molecule, leaving the ozone molecule as an oxygen one.

The ozone layer is about 6 to 10 miles away from Earth and is located in the stratosphere which is the second of five layers in the atmosphere. You might not know it, but CFCs are used in our everyday lives from hairspray to refrigerators. As protectors of the planet, it is our job to look after it and preserve what we have. We can do this by avoiding the use of items such as hairspray, old refrigerators, and cleaning solvents. All of these products contain the notorious CFCs, which destroy the beloved ozone layer. Thankfully, most of these products have been altered to fit the Montreal Protocol that was proposed in 1987. This protocol banned most ozone-depleting substances.

Preventing any use of CFCs is an effective solution if we want to preserve our ozone layer. Once CFCs have entered the stratosphere, each chlorine atom has the potential to destroy over 10,000 ozone molecules. Products that contain CFCs include some cleaning solvents, aerosol sprays, and plastic foam. These are only a few items that we can avoid to help preserve our ozone layer.

Without a doubt, preventing the use of CFCs is an effective solution to stop ozone depletion. Due to CFCs ozone-destroying potential, CFCs were banned by the Montreal Protocol in 1987. Since then, we have been more cautious of other products that may have the potential to destroy ozone molecules.

Reduction of Nitrous Oxide

Preventing any further use or production of nitrous oxide will help improve our ozone layer. Most of the nitrous oxide is produced from farms when farmers use nitrogen fertilizer. Once nitrous oxide reaches the stratosphere, it breaks down to create gases, which contributes to ozone depletion. Nitrous oxide is also released into the air when removed from wastewater.

In 1772, Joseph Priestley, an English chemist, discovered nitrous oxide. Soon after, Humphry Davis named nitrous oxide “laughing gas”, and proved its effect on humans. In order to find out its effects, Humphry Davis tested nitrous oxide on himself, in order to find out what it did. Inhaling large amounts, Davis was allowed to determine the effect of nitrous oxide. According to “Here’s What It Was Like to Discover Laughing Gas(by Smart News),” Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote, “Then I first inspired the nitrous oxide, I felt a highly pleasurable sensation of warmth over my whole frame, resembling that which I remember once to have experienced after returning from a walk in the snow into a warm room. The only motion which I felt inclined to make, was that of laughing at those who were looking at me.” Samuel Taylor Coleridge was a poet who also tried the laughing gas alongside Humphry Davis and a few others.

Generally speaking, avoiding the use of nitrous oxide is an effective solution to ozone depletion. Nitrous oxide has been known for destroying the ozone and has now become quite a big concern. Nitrous oxide is produced naturally when nitrogen in soil or water is eaten by bacteria. That then rises into the stratosphere, which is home to the ozone layer. Most of it is broken down into nitrogen and oxygen molecules, but a small portion of the nitrous oxide stays and becomes ozone-depleting nitric oxide. Nitrogen fertilizer is a very popular choice when it comes to gardening, so preventing the manufacturing of nitrogen soil will help preserve our ozone layer.

Unlike most CFCs, nitrous oxide is still being produced. Sadly, nitrous oxide destroys ozone faster than it can be produced naturally. Recent articles claim that nitrous oxide is now the largest ozone-depleting substance. Recent studies show that nitrous oxide may be the ozone layer’s new enemy, so we must preserve it.

Clearly, avoiding the use of nitrous oxide will help preserve our ozone layer. N Nitrous oxide has done a great deal of damage to the ozone layer. If we don’t stop it now, we risk the future of the Earth, and its people.

Nitrous Oxide over Chlorofluorocarbons

Truly, preventing any use of nitrous oxide is a strong solution to ozone depletion, as it is one of the main sources of ozone depletion. While it is true that CFCs are the main source of ozone depletion, most CFCs have been banned because they’ve done critical damage to the ozone layer. The CFCs were banned by the Montreal Protocol which was proposed in 1987. Sadly, there is a new ODS(ozone-depleting substance) on the rise it’s called nitrous oxide.

Preventing any use of chlorofluorocarbons will preserve our ozone layer. The ozone layer surrounds the Earth and protects us from UV(ultraviolet) rays. As a matter of fact, there is a gaping hole in our ozone layer over the Antarctic region. It was discovered in 1985, 33 years ago by Joseph Farman, Brian Gardiner, and Johnathan Smith. About 90% of the destruction of the ozone hole has been done by CFCs. Products that contain CFCs can be avoided to preserve our ozone layer. These products include cleaning solvents, hairspray, and refrigerators. Thankfully, CFCs have been banned by the Montreal Protocol.

While it is true that avoiding the use of chlorofluorocarbons has caused most of the damage to the ozone layer, most chlorofluorocarbons have been banned by the Montreal Protocol. Avoiding the use of nitrous oxide is an effective solution to ozone depletion. Nitrous oxide, better known as “laughing gas” is produced naturally, while chlorofluorocarbons are man-made. Once nitrogen is placed in soil by fertilizers, the nitrogen is eaten by bacteria and is released into the atmosphere. This causes the ozone layer to deteriorate. In truth, most nitrous oxide has done a lot to deplete the ozone layer.

The ozone layer surrounds the Earth and protects us from UV rays. And about 90% of ozone depletion has been caused by chlorofluorocarbons. Avoiding the use of nitrous oxide is a better solution. CFCs may have affected the world earlier, but nitrous oxide is a more accurate solution for our time. As a matter of fact, if we don’t protect our ozone layer, we will risk the lives of future humans and the animal kingdom. The ozone layer plays a giant role in the lives of humans. Since many people will perish, the population will drop drastically. To emphasize this issue, the leaders of our world need to make a statement. Kings, queens, presidents, emperors, and all the leaders need to protect our ozone layer. If we are to preserve the ozone layer and our future, we must take action. Preserving the ozone layer may take a while, but it will help us in the long run.

Works Cited

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Planet Earth is the home of our species and countless others that are simply trying to survive each day. Even from the threat of things like cosmic rays, our Earth has an atmospheric defense system that can protect us from them.

However, mankind’s actions have been damaging the protective layer, the ozone layer, for years now. How is the ozone layer doing now in the current day?

Ozone and the Layer

According to NASA Ozone Watch, ozone is a colorless gas that can readily interact when it comes into contact with other substances. It is composed of three oxygen atoms. This gas can be incredibly damaging- it can destroy plant life, damage lung tissue in humans, and even crack rubber. However, its place in our atmosphere as the Ozone Layer allows it to absorb ultraviolet B rays which are harmful rays coming from the Sun. In effect, everything below the Earth’s ozone layer is protected by it. The measure for total ozone is the Dobson unit (DU).

The layer stretches from 15 to 30 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. Up in the stratosphere, which stretches from 10 to 50 kilometers in the air, ozone is being created and depleted constantly.

Causes of Depletion

There has been much international concern over the state of the ozone layer, especially as the increased and nearly uncontrolled release of chemical pollution into the air has caused the layer to deteriorate over time, and large amounts of damaging ultraviolet rays have been able to get through.

The main culprit for the ozone layer’s destruction is the release of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). These can be found in aerosol sprays and other products that are manufactured by many of the world’s industrialized nations, and these have been around for more than 50 years. CFCs break down into compounds like chlorine when exposed to UV light, and a single atom of chlorine can annihilate thousands of ozone molecules, especially through the ozone hole.

The ozone hole is a depleted ozone region in the Southern Hemisphere, specifically the Antarctic, which has been observed to deplete severely after coming into contact and reacting with chemicals like bromine and chlorine. It has been happening every year for the past several years since the 1980s. The low temperatures of the area make it so that CFC converts into chlorine much faster, and the ozone is destroyed at increased levels, up to 65% more than usual.

Discovery and Dangers

The first discovery that the ozone layer may be depleting occurred in the mid-1970w when scientists Mario Molina and Sherwood Rowland made findings of the harmful effects of CFCs on the environment, which won them the Nobel Prize. While these substances were the main cause, scientists believe, according to The Conversation, that the increase in damage to ozone levels may be due to other short-lived, human-made gases. Even if these substances disappear immediately, the damage will still have been done.

The chink in the Earth’s armor and the increase of dangerous UV rays can cause an increase in skin cancers and cataracts, as well as the undue heating of the Earth. The radiation will cause phytoplankton to inhibit their reproductive cycle, as explained by National Geographic. As the bottom members of the food chain, their decrease would inevitably decrease the populations of the animals in the upper echelons of the chain as well, and this would then go all the way up to affect our own species. In fact, scientists have already found evidence of the reduction of fish, crab, frog, and shrimp populations from overexposure to UV rays.

Measures Taken and Eventual Fate

Most of the world’s CFCs, about 90%, have come from the activities of Northern Hemisphere countries such as the US and those in Europe. However, while the ozone has been severely damaged in recent decades, scientists have found that the ozone layer can repair itself. After CFC use was banned in 1996, chlorine levels in the atmosphere began to lower. From there, they estimated that it would take about 50 years for the chlorine to reach normal levels. The UN released a report that the ozone layer was on track to heal after half a century.

Aside from the CFC ban in 1996, an earlier treaty, called the Montreal Protocol, was done in 1989 that prohibited the use of ozone-depleting chemicals in products. About 45 countries signed this treaty, and it was later ratified by 197 nations. Though this treaty came into effect a long time ago, ozone levels were still decreasing after the fact. This prompted leaders to double down on other substances like the ones that released greenhouse gases, such as hydrofluorocarbons.

There is still much unknown about the ozone layer and what can affect it other than UV rays and CFCs. Further research into harmful substances and better strategies for helping the ozone layer restore itself may come within the next few years. For now, we must all do our part in helping save the ozone layer.