Cause of Ozone Layer Depletion
- The main factor for ozone depletion is CFCs. These are emitted by solvents, spray aerosols, freezers, and air conditioners.
- UV light destroys chlorofluorocarbon molecules in the stratosphere, releasing chlorine atoms. These atoms degrade ozone by interacting with it.
- According to studies, uncontrolled rocket launches destroy the ozone layer far more than CFCs. If not addressed, severe ozone layer depletion might occur by 2050.
- The ozone layer is eroded by natural mechanisms such as Sunspots and stratospheric winds, which have been discovered.
- Ozone depletion is also due to volcanic eruptions.
Ozone Layer – Causes, Effects & Depletion
Ozone Layer: Oxygen is a member of the chalcogen group of the periodic table, a highly reactive nonmetal that quickly forms oxides with most elements and other compounds. After hydrogen and helium, oxygen is the most abundant element on Earth and the universe’s third most common element. Diatomic oxygen gas makes up 20.95 % of the Earth’s atmosphere nowadays.
Ozone is too reactive at sea level to last long in the atmosphere. At a height of around 20 kilometers, it is created from air oxygen in the presence of sunshine. The ozone layer shields the surface of the world from UV radiation. It’s a diamagnetic, unstable gas with a pungent odor that protects the Earth from dangerous ultraviolet rays from the sun.
Ozone is a potent oxidant with a wide range of industrial and consumer applications. However, ozone damages mucous and respiratory tissues in mammals, as well as plant tissues, due to its strong oxidizing potential. While this makes ozone a serious respiratory hazard and pollutant near the ground, a higher ozone layer concentration is advantageous because it prevents harmful UV rays from reaching the Earth’s surface.
Table of Content
- What is Ozone Layer?
- Properties of Ozone
- Uses of Ozone
- Ozone Layer Depletion
- Cause of Ozone Layer Depletion
- Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS)
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