Ozone is a natural gas containing
three oxygen atoms rather than two oxygen atoms that we breathe. Ozone is found
in two different layers of the atmosphere, in the troposphere and in the
stratosphere. Ozone present in the atmosphere is good while ozone present in
troposphere is bad.
The ozone layer is a deep layer in the
stratosphere that protects life on Earth from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. The
ozone absorbs a portion of the radiation from the sun, preventing it from
reaching the Earth’s surface. Ozone layer also absorbs the portion of the sun’s
harmful ultraviolet light called UVB. Too much UVB causes bad health such as skin
cancer and eye damage among others. UVB also harms some crops, marine life, and
some materials.
While the ozone present in the
stratosphere protects life from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet light, ozone
present in the troposphere causes breathing problems for some people. It is
stated that chlorofluorocarbon (CFC’s) used as refrigerants, solvents, foam blowing
agents, and in other smaller applications have atmospheric lifetimes long
enough to allow them to be transported by winds into the stratosphere where
radiation breaks them apart, releasing chlorine atoms. Chlorine can attack and
break apart as many as 100,000 ozone molecules through a series of chemical
reactions during the time it is in the stratosphere.
Countries around the world became
increasingly concerned that chlorine from chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) could
further deplete the ozone present in the stratosphere if production of chlorofluorocarbons
(CFC’s) is still supported and is not minimized. Countries agreed to sign a
treaty called the Montreal Protocol. This protocol helps humans reduce the
production of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) and also its use.
Based from what I have read, there was
also another treaty before regarding the reduction of production of chlorofluorocarbons
(CFC’s) and its use. But research after research, additional use of chlorofluorocarbons
(CFC’s) has been discovered. But due to the alarming effects of too much chlorofluorocarbons
(CFC’s) present in the atmosphere, another treaty is made to reduce the production
of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) and its use. With this treaty, environmentalists
believe that ozone present in the stratosphere in the coming years will be equal
to the amount present during the 1980’s.
After the year 1980, ozone hole continues to grow bigger. And this event will continue if human activities that lead to this also continue.
To better understand the Montreal Protocol you could read this file I downloaded:
IMAGES:
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