The thinning is most pronounced in the polar regions, especially over antarctica. When chlorine nitrate, a chemical that ties up chlorine in an ozonesafe form, was added to the hypothesis, the expected amount of ozone loss decreased. Ozone o 3 is a gas that can form and react under the action of light and that is present in two layers of the atmosphere. B dobson inferred correctly that the cause of the warm stratosphere was heating by the absorption of ultraviolet solar radiation by ozone, and he set out to. Cfcs get banned in 1974 scientists sherry rowland and mario molina discovered the link between the depletion of the ozone layer and cfcs. Air pollution, smog, acid rain, the greenhouse effect, and ozone depletion air pollution is a wellknown problem throughout the world. The ozone layer lies approximately 1540 kilometers 1025 miles above the earths surface, in the stratosphere.
Causes of ozone depletion air pollution global warming. Unece convention on longrange transboundary air pollution and its protocols, the. Frequently asked questions about the ozone layer us epa. The chlorofluorocarbon and the halons are potent ozone. Ozone depletion and climate change have usually been thought of as environmental issues with little in common other than their global scope. What emissions from human activities lead to ozone. Air pollution and ozone depletion flashcards quizlet. In fact whole world is vulnerable to its after affects.
Project report on ozone depletion environmental pollution. Photochemical smog is the major cause of ozoneexposure causing urban air pollution posing a threat to human health. Ozone layer is also naturally broken down but there is a balance between its formation and natural depletion. B dobson and other scientists in measuring concentrations of chloride and ozone in the atmosphere g. But many researchers do not agree with these predictions,14 and express their. Unlike pollution which has several causes, there is one specific chemical compound that is. Health effects of ozone and particle pollution state of. Humans know that we are the major cause for air pollution and although we know this fact, we continue to pollute. Although natural phenomena can cause temporary ozone loss, chlorine and bromine released from manmade compounds such as cfcs are now accepted as the main cause of this. Lets have a look at some of the solutions to ozone layer depletion.
Ozone depletion in canada is usually greatest in the late winter and early spring. Ozone depletion facts and information national geographic. This band of ozonerich air is known as the ozone layer. Ozone layer depletion is one of the major environmental issues which is getting thinner day by day as a. People ask if we cannot produce our own ozone gas to replenish what is lost in the stratosphere. Reducing outdoor air pollution enactregulateenforce lawsstandards strengthen laws by. Ozone is a form of oxygen with three atoms instead of the normal two, and forms a fragile shield scattered in the stratosphere absorbing the suns ultraviolet radiation, away from the earths surface. Basic ozone layer science ozone layer protection us epa. Human activities cause ozone depletion and global warming. Once they get there they destroy ozone molecules and cause the ozone layer to become depleted or thinner. It forms a natural belt or shield in the upper atmosphere at 20 km to 30 km above earth, also called stratosphere. One of the greatest and most dangerous effects of pollution on the ozone layer is that it creates holes in the atmosphere, which allow powerful ultraviolet rays from the sun to reach the earths surface. Uncovering the hidden hazard of hairspray a usual morning routine might include a spritz of hair.
These gases bring chlorine and bromine to the stratosphere, which cause depletion of the ozone layer. The problems and causes associated with ozone depletion arise from human activities. Pdf causes of ozone layer depletion and its effects on. Nations have been working to reduce ozonedepleting chemicals since the 1980s, but. Groundlevel ozone, in contrast, is simply a pollutant. Ozone air pollution and health studies have indicated that exposure to groundlevel ozone air pollution, even at very low levels, can cause a number of respiratory health effects particularly over time. Case study on ozone layer free download as powerpoint presentation. Ozone layer, region of the upper atmosphere, between roughly 15 and 35 km 9 and 22 miles above earths surface, containing relatively high concentrations of ozone molecules. Ebscohost serves thousands of libraries with premium essays, articles and other content including the effect of air pollution on ozone layer thickness in troposphere over the state of kuwait.
Unfortunately, cfcs can eventually find their way into the earths atmosphere and the ozone layer. Ozone depletion, gradual thinning of earths ozone layer in the upper atmosphere caused by the release of chemical compounds containing gaseous chlorine or bromine from industry and other human activities. Both are essential for life but air also protects all of us and it is therefore understandable that the response to the depletion of the ozone layer became international. It also introduces various international agreements and conventions to combat the same. Atmospheric concentrations of most ozonedepleting substances. The ozone with chemical formula o3 is a molecule composed of three atoms of oxygen, reason why it is also known. High up in the atmosphere, ozone forms a layer that shields the earth from ultraviolet rays. The depletion of the ozone layer 1593 words 7 pages. Ozone is a natural gas and is naturally replenished over time. The ozone layer protects earth from dangerous uv radiation fig.
Ozone depletion is the process of destruction of the ozone layer which can cause adverse effects on the living forms by many pollutants releases out from the vehicles, industries etc. World map depicting the top 10 countries with the highest and lowest air pollution levels. The world meteorological or ganization wmo, 1995 predicted that the depletion of the ozone layer peaked around 1998 and the layer would slowly recover by 2045 12. The effect of air pollution on ozone layer thickness in. In our present study, we shall discuss how ozone layer depletion is affecting human health and we shall also discuss some recommendations to minimize ozone depletion and its adverse effects on human health.
There have been several concerns about ozone depletion. Groundlevel ozones harmful effects on human health and the environment prompted the federal government to set national ambient air quality standards naaqs for the amount of ozone in the air over certain time periods. For example, chlorofluorocarbons cfcs, once used in almost all refrigeration and air conditioning systems, eventually reach the stratosphere, where they are broken apart to release ozonedepleting chlorine atoms. Prevention, further reducing and controlling emissions especially for cars and motorcycles, setting stricter regulations for airports and reducing indoor air pollution authorizingusing emissions trading.
Causes, effects and solutions of ozone layer depletion. Earths ozone layer shields us from harmful ultraviolet radiation. Depletion of this layer by ozone depleting substances ods will lead to higher uvb levels, which in turn will cause increased skin cancers and cataracts and potential damage. Ozone in the stratospherea layer of the atmosphere between 15 and 50 kilometers 10 and 31 miles. Causes of ozone layer depletion and its effects on human.
International journal of environmental science and development, vol. This lesson provides an insight into the phenomenon of ozone layer depletion, along with its mechanism and effects. The earths ozone layer ozone layerthe region of the stratosphere containing the bulk of atmospheric ozone. In africa, the healthy air environments are polluted. Most ozone is found in the stratosphere upper part of the atmosphere, more than 10 to 16 kms from the surface of the earth. Approximately 90 percent of the atmospheres ozone occurs from 1018 km 611 miles to. The climate system involves the atmosphere specifically processes within the troposphere, such as air circulation patterns land surfaces and oceans. Ozone o 3 depletion does not cause global warming, but both of these environmental problems have a common cause. Far above earths surface, the ozone layer helps to protect life from harmful ultraviolet radiation. Ozone layer the ozone layer is basically naturally occurring gas in the region of stratosphere where ozone particles are accumulated 2. The ozone hole and global warming union of concerned. Near the ground, ozone forming as a result of chemical reactions involving traffic pollution and sunlight may cause a number of respiratory problems, particularly for young children. Looking back over the scientific investigation of ozone depletion, we can see how the molinarowland hypothesis evolved with new data.
In the late 1990s, average ozone depletion in the summer over canada was between 3% and 7%. This means if we can do something to balance the natural production with its depletion, there should not be a problem. Air pollution is occurring on a vast and unprecedented scale around the globe. Many varieties of atmospheric pollutants toxic chemicals, synthetic substances, such as ddt, and manmade chemicals enter the atmosphere. The natural distribution of ozone around the earth is. Global warming and ozone layer depletion are two different problems see the sidebar misconceptions about global atmospheric change on page 95. Effects of ozone pollution environment pollution green.
The ozone layer helps to protect life from harmful ultraviolet radiation. The ozone layer over southern canada has thinned by an average of about 7% since the 1980s. Chapter 15 air pollution, climate change, and ozone depletion. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Ozone depletion and climate change environment canada. Global warming is caused by the greenhouse effect, which is essential to life as we know it on planet earth. People of color and those earning lower incomes are often disproportionately affected by air pollution that put them at higher risk for illnesses. Thus any depletion of stratospheric ozone is predicted to cool this region and, hence, change the. What are the effects of pollution on the ozone layer. Ozone depletion occurs when the natural balance between the production and destruction of stratospheric ozone is tipped in favour of destruction.
The ozone layer is a belt of the naturallyoccuring gas ozone that sits. Find out what caused the ozone hole, and how the 1989 montreal protocol sought to put an end to ozone depletion. Depletion of this layer by ozone depleting substances ods will lead to higher uvb levels, which in turn will cause increased skin cancers and cataracts and potential damage to some marine organisms, plants, and plastics. Case study depletion of ozone in the atmosphere the work of g. Ozone layer depletion the ozone with chemical formula o 3 is a molecule composed of three atoms of oxygen, reason why it is also known as trioxygen. Symptoms of ozone exposure when people breathe ozone air pollution, the lining of their lungs can become irritated and inflamed.
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