Ozone Layer depletion has been the most talked about topic in the recent days. What is Ozone and how does it get depleted due to human activities? Let us take a sneak peek into all we ought to know about it. To begin with, the Ozone Layer constitutes the stratosphere which is the upper layer of the Earth. It extends to some 15 to 30kms above the Earth. The primary role of this ozone layer is to protect Earth from the Sun’s harmful ultra-violet radiation. What would happen if Earth is exposed to these UV rays? UV rays are extremely harmful and excessive exposure to these could prove extremely fatal on the health of humans and animals alike. Thus the importance of ozone layer lies in safeguarding Earth from this damaging exposure.
What damage could this exposure cause?
Exposure to UV rays could cause irreversible damage like reduction is phytoplankton, single celled algae which are the ground of life for many other living beings. Researchers have been observing that the depletion of ozone layer has already begun to take a toll on the environment through elevated levels of global warming and drastic changes in the reproductive behavior and rates of marine life like crabs, shrimp and unique species of fishes. Again, deterioration of the ozone layer would also cause a increased rate of cataract in human beings, skin cancer and other irreversible impact on human life.
What is the actual reason behind the ozone layer depletion?
The major cause is due to the emission of chlorine and bromine into the atmosphere. Chlorofluorocarbons play a major role in damaging the ozone layer as they hugely hinder the quality of this layer. These gases are present in aerosol sprays, vehicular emissions, refrigerants, by-products of industrial procedures and so on. Though gases are stable in the lower atmosphere, they start reacting after they reach the stratosphere and begin to release chlorine atoms which react with ozone and start the depletion almost instantaneously.
Based on a study done by U.S Environmental Protection Agency, one atom of chlorine can destroy almost a hundred thousand ozone molecules. Such being the disastrous impact, scientists have been continuously on the lookout for alternatives to save the ozone layer from depleting further.
It has been found by scientists that the area around Antarctica is the worst affected. Due to the climatic conditions and the pollution over this region, nearly 65% of the ozone layer has been damaged. In the other regions of the globe, it has been estimated that 20% of the ozone layer has been impacted adversely. Considering the drastic affect of pollution and usage of chlorofluorocarbons, these gases are completely banned across the globe. Countries have been asked to use alternatives in refrigerants and aerosols. However, it has been estimated that it would take another 50 years for the chlorine levels to come back to normal.
How can we save the ozone layer?
It is not limited to a specific region or country. Depletion of the ozone layer is a universal issue and solving it is in the hands of all the people across the globe.
- Opting for natural manures to artificial fertilizers
- Curbing pollution
- Appropriate processing of industrial waste
- Avoiding plastics, papers and shifting to eco-friendly products
These are few very basic ways in which we could limit the damage caused to the ozone layer. So high time we join our hands together for this global issue and do our best to restrict the damage being done.
The post All We Need to Know About Ozone Layer Depletion appeared first on The Open Express - Your Open Magazine.
