Ozone Depletion - The Problem With the Ozone Layer
To understand the problem of ozone depletion, we first need to understand where the ozone layer is and what it does.
The ozone layer is present in the highest layer of the earth's atmosphere.
The stratosphere rises up to 30 miles above the earth's surface and ozone can be found in the very top layer of the stratosphere.
In fact, these regions of the stratosphere contain almost 90% of all ozone.
The ozone layer is what protects the earth from the harmful ultraviolet rays received from the sun.
The layer absorbs most of the UV rays and does not allow them to reach the earth.
This way, it protects both plant and animal life on the planet.
As you can imagine, if any damage is caused to this protective layer, the effects on the planet and its inhabitants would be nothing short of catastrophic.
Around mid-1980s, it was found that there is damage being caused to the ozone layer as a result of which the layer is being depleted.
It was also discovered that the release of a substance called CFC or chlorofluorocarbons was the main culprit.
The continent of Antarctica suffered early on because of this ozone layer depletion.
Scientists have discovered a massive hole in the ozone layer right above the continent and this now threatens to cause massive melting of the icecaps.
To understand the gravity of the situation, we have to look at what effects even a minor ozone depletion can cause.
It is obvious that every time some fraction of the ozone layer is lost, more of the harmful ultraviolet rays can reach the earth.
In fact, it has been shown that for every 1% of ozone layer depletion, 2% more UV-B (the harmful UV rays) can reach the earth.
This UV-B increase is the most alarming consequence of ozone layer depletion because it is one of the major causes of skin cancer.
A depleted ozone layer is also known to cause an increase in malaria and other infectious diseases.
In addition, oceans are also believed to be hard hit by any depletion in the ozone layer - any major increase in the UV radiation may cause harm to the tiny micro-organisms that live in the oceans, like planktons.
This will set off a chain reaction, which will be end up severely affecting plant and vegetation life cycles and causing irreparable damage to entire ecosystems.
The ozone layer is present in the highest layer of the earth's atmosphere.
The stratosphere rises up to 30 miles above the earth's surface and ozone can be found in the very top layer of the stratosphere.
In fact, these regions of the stratosphere contain almost 90% of all ozone.
The ozone layer is what protects the earth from the harmful ultraviolet rays received from the sun.
The layer absorbs most of the UV rays and does not allow them to reach the earth.
This way, it protects both plant and animal life on the planet.
As you can imagine, if any damage is caused to this protective layer, the effects on the planet and its inhabitants would be nothing short of catastrophic.
Around mid-1980s, it was found that there is damage being caused to the ozone layer as a result of which the layer is being depleted.
It was also discovered that the release of a substance called CFC or chlorofluorocarbons was the main culprit.
The continent of Antarctica suffered early on because of this ozone layer depletion.
Scientists have discovered a massive hole in the ozone layer right above the continent and this now threatens to cause massive melting of the icecaps.
To understand the gravity of the situation, we have to look at what effects even a minor ozone depletion can cause.
It is obvious that every time some fraction of the ozone layer is lost, more of the harmful ultraviolet rays can reach the earth.
In fact, it has been shown that for every 1% of ozone layer depletion, 2% more UV-B (the harmful UV rays) can reach the earth.
This UV-B increase is the most alarming consequence of ozone layer depletion because it is one of the major causes of skin cancer.
A depleted ozone layer is also known to cause an increase in malaria and other infectious diseases.
In addition, oceans are also believed to be hard hit by any depletion in the ozone layer - any major increase in the UV radiation may cause harm to the tiny micro-organisms that live in the oceans, like planktons.
This will set off a chain reaction, which will be end up severely affecting plant and vegetation life cycles and causing irreparable damage to entire ecosystems.
