This blog contains information about Ozone. In the start, it explains the Ozone Gas and also explain Stratospheric and Ground-level Ozone and their Significance. It also elaborates its Formation. Then it explains the concept of Ozone Depletion. It also contains Causes and Effects of Ozone Depletion. In the end, It provides solutions to avoid Ozone Depletion. This blog contains Ozone Formation, Depletion, Effects and Solutions for Ozone Depletion.
Definition of Ozone:
Ozone is a highly reactive gas that is composed of three Oxygen Atom. As we all know that most of the Biodiversity depends on Oxygen to survive and live. Even the Earth is able to live, is because of presence of oxygen in our environment.
Ozone forms when single Oxygen atom combines with O2. It is a gas found in the atmosphere that is useful to block harmful rays of the sun. But on the other hand it is a harmful pollutant on the Earth.
There are two regions of the Planet where O3 is present. But their functions are alternative in both of the regions:
1. Stratospheric Ozone :
Ozone is found naturally in Stratospheric region of the Atmosphere creating an Ozone Layer. This ozone layer protects the Earth’s surface and organisms on Earth from harmful radiations coming from the sun. It allows essential radiations to enter the Earth’s atmosphere and also reflects the harmful radiations back to the space. This stratospheric ozone is necessary for survival of species on Earth. Human activities and GHG emissions are depleting the Ozone layer with passing time.
2. Ground-Level Ozone:
This is the ozone gas found on the surface of the Earth. This ozone derives from Anthropogenic activities such as by cars, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries, etc. These are the development related sources of ground-level ozone and also major sources of emission. But the ozone can be emitted by paints, cleaners, solvents, fuels and many other sources. This collectively makes a significant concentration of Ozone on ground-level. This ozone is one of the major air pollutants found on the Earth and it is very harmful for life on Earth.
Although it is the same gas that is found in the Stratosphere and on Ground-level, but it is harmful on surface of the Earth because it is directly exposed to the living organisms and it produces very bad impacts. While the Stratospheric Ozone is the reason, that we are safe from the harmful radiations of the sun. In this way, Ozone gas has two different types of impacts on Living organisms or Biodiversity on Earth.
Formation of Ozone O3:
Ozone formation is a two-step process. The two steps for Ozone formation are as follows:
i. Dissociation of O2 molecule:
In the first step of Ozone formation, there is a dissociation of Oxygen due to Ultraviolet Radiations from the Sun. The O2 molecule is converted into two oxygen atoms in this step. The equation for this step is mentioned below:
O2 (g) ——> O (g) + O (g)
ii. Combining of O2 molecule with O atoms:
In the second step, the dissociated O atoms freely move into the atmosphere. These O atoms combines with Oxygen molecules O2 into the atmosphere. This produces O3 as a result. The equation of this step is mentioned below:
O2 (g) + O( g) ——> O3(g)
In this way Ozone is formed into the atmosphere. This blog contains Formation, Depletion, and Effects of Ozone Depletion.
Ozone Depletion:
It is the process of thinning of the Ozone layer into the stratosphere. In the past decades, the ozone depletion was not a significant problem to be aware of and to control. But as the Industrial Era started and new technologies were introduced to people, they cause emissions of harmful gases and major air pollutants into the atmosphere. This cause the thinning of Ozone layer. We can call this phenomenon as Ozone Depletion. This natural depletion is very harmful for life on Earth. As this depletion allows UV radiations and extreme heat to enter into the Earth’s atmosphere causing extreme impacts on life on Earth. We will discuss its impacts in detail. This blog contains information about Formation, Depletion, and Effects of Ozone Depletion.
Causes of Ozone Depletion:
Following are some of the main Causes of Ozone Depletion:
. Chlorofluorocarbons:
The most dangerous gas molecules for ozone layer is CFC. CFCs or chlorofluorocarbons are synthetic organic compounds that contains Chlorine and Fluorine so both of these gases destroys Ozone molecules into the atmosphere. CFCs exists in refrigerators, aerosols, solvents and many other sources. They directly attack the O3 molecule and destroy them. It is the major cause of Ozone Depletion.
. Methyl Chloroform:
It is a common chemical that we can use in industries such as for vapor degreasing, adhesives, aerosols, cold cleaning etc. The molecules of methyl chloroform emits in large amounts by humans during industrial purposes and other processes we discussed. As it is a common chemical or gas used in industries. It destroys a lot of O3 molecules into the atmosphere.
. Hydrofluorochlorocarbons:
HFCFs are now the major transitional substitute of CFCs. Although they are less harmful to Ozone layer than CFCs. But they are one of the potent GHGs present in the atmosphere. They cause a great destruction of Ozone layer every year. Along with the control of CFC formation, we should also control the formation of HFCFs on Earth to avoid Ozone Depletion.
. Halons:
These are the primary fire extinguishing agents, both in built-in systems and in portable extinguishers. They are Organohalogen compounds that contains bromine, fluorine and one or two carbon atoms. These halons cause extreme destruction of Ozone layer because they emit harmful gases during every use. They are also one of the major cause of Ozone Depletion.
These are the major causes and sources of Ozone Depletion.
Effects of Ozone Depletion:
Following are the major effects of Ozone Depletion on Earth:
Health Effects:
The thinning of Ozone layer of ozone depletion is causing the harmful radiations of Sun to reach the Earth surface. This is automatically increasing Global Warming, heat waves and effects of severe heat on health of living organisms. The extreme health effects caused by ozone depletion includes Skin cancer, skin allergies, redness of skin, eye problems, cataracts in eyes, sunburns, sun strokes, immune system disturbance and also many such health problems related to internal functioning of the body or external health conditions in humans and animals.
Effects on Plants:
Plants are very important living part of our Earth’s Biodiversity. Plants provide us with nutrients, oxygen, raw material, medicines and useful chemicals. Ozone depletion not only effect humans on Earth but also disturbs living mechanisms in plants too. These effects include oxidizes or burns plant tissue during respiration, cause reduction in plant development, decrease leaf size, disrupts the blooming process and cause disturbance in proper photosynthesis. In this way, it cause negative impacts on plant growth and survival.
Effects on Animals:
Animals are as important on Earth as humans are to built up and maintain ecosystems in the world. They are also extremely effected by depletion of ozone layer into the atmosphere. Same as humans, animals can also have skin related problems, weakening of immune system, disruption in enzymatic functions of animals, and eye diseases. This is how Ozone depletion is harmful for animals on Earth.
Effects on Environment:
As we know that, stabilized environment provides us many benefits and a healthy life. A little disturbance in environmental systems can cause severe impacts on humans and animals. Ozone depletion effects the environment as it lead to minimal growth, flowering and photosynthesis in plants. Forests also feels disturbed in the condition of extreme exposure of UV radiations.
These are major effects of Ozone depletion on different species and parts of the Environment. This blog contains Formation, Depletion, Effects and Solutions for Ozone Depletion.
Solutions for Ozone Layer Depletion:
Following are some solutions of Ozone Layer Depletion:
1: Avoid or Prevent Using ODS:
ODS is the abbreviation of Ozone Depleting Substances. These substances includes fluorine, chlorine and bromine atoms and the molecules with all any of these atoms. We should prevent or avoid their use to control ozone depletion. We should also search better and Eco-friendly alternatives for these harmful chemicals.
2: Drive Smart:
The vehicles that we use in our daily life, emits a huge amount of GHGs and other harmful gases. These gases adds into the environment and contributes in the ozone depletion. We should drive smart by using less vehicles. Our goal should be preferring walk, bicycles and public transport instead of personal vehicles.
3: Use Eco-friendly products:
As we know that, we use synthetic chemicals and substances in our daily routine, for cleaning, washing, applying and other activities. These chemicals are harmful for environment and their emissions are huge cause of ozone depletion. We should make and use eco-friendly and natural products instead of synthetic chemicals in our daily life to avoid damage.
4: Switch to Renewable Energy Sources:
The use of fossil fuels adds a huge concentration of GHGs and harmful air pollutants into the air and the environment. We should avoid using such non-sustainable sources of energy for industrial purposes. We should switch to wind energy, hydro power, bio fuels and also other eco-friendly and renewable energy to avoid damage to the environment.
5: Avoid using Synthetic Fertilizers:
The emissions through fertilizers add chemical substances to the air, water and environment. Eventually all the emissions of agricultural activities sums us into the atmosphere so this is one of the main cause of ozone depletion. We should switch to organic fertilizer, vermicomposting, mulching and other eco-friendly ways to fertilize our crops to avoid such emissions into the atmosphere.
These are the ways to control Ozone depletion. This blog contains Formation, Depletion, Effects and Solutions for Ozone Depletion.
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