Depletion of Ozone Layer, Research Paper Example

The ozone layer is situated in the stratosphere, and it protects the harshness of the ultraviolet radiations from the sun. The thickness Ozone layer is different depending on the geography and season. However, during the past few decades, it has been recorded that the ozone layer is depleting due to human activities and some natural causes as well. Depletion of the Ozone layer leads to various skin cancers and other diseases in humans. It also causes significant damage to the vegetation including; forests, crops and wildlife. This paper will discuss some of the human activities responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer and how it can be prevented.[1]

Causes of ozone reduction

Man-made causes

The primary reasons that lead to the increased depletion of the Ozone layer are human-made chemicals containing chlorine and bromine. It is believed that one chlorine molecule can break down thousands of Ozone Molecules. Bromine atom causes more destruction to the Ozone layer than the chlorine. The man-made compounds that produce excess chlorine and bromine include; halons, methyl bromide, hydro-chlorofluorocarbons, hydro-bromofluorocarbons and carbon tetrachloride.[2]

Ozone-depleting substances (ODS)

Ozone-depleting substances include; carbon tetrachloride, chlorofluorocarbons, methyl chloroform and hydro-chlorofluorocarbons and halons.

Natural causes

There are some natural phenomena as well, which causes ozone erosion. However, these incidents do not harm the ozone layer as much as a man-made or Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) do. [3]

Volcano eruptions: According to NCBI report shows that supervolcano eruptions shoot up gases like sulphur and matter particles high enough in the atmosphere that they reach in the stratosphere. There these particles provide a surface for the already existing ODS’s, which accelerates the depletion of ozone even more.

Solar storms: According to a NASA report, solar storms usually carry positively charged hydrogen atoms. Theses atoms hummers ozone layer from the outer side, diminishing tiny portions of the ozone layer. These natural events may be reasons for ozone erosion, but they are responsible for decreasing ozone even less than 3%.

Effects of Ozone depletion

Increased exposure to hazardous UVB radiation can be harmful to humans, plants, animals and aquatic life on the planet.

Humans

Without the ozone layer protecting us, we will be in direct contact with UV radiations from the sun, which can be hazardous to human beings. Ozone layer depletion leads to the exposure of UVB radiation. According to epidemiological and laboratory studies, UVB radiations cause many types of skin cancer which include basal cell carcinoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. UVB radiations also lead to the development of cataracts, which can lead to permanent blindness. [4]

Plants

Excessive exposure to UVB radiation can hinder the growth and development of plants. UVB radiation cause changes in plant form, the way nutrients are allocated within the plants, secondary metabolism and developmental phases of the plant. These changes lead to implications for biogeochemical cycles, herbivory, plant diseases and competitive balance to the plant. This can affect food security worldwide.

Animals and marine life

Phytoplankton is an integral part of the aquatic food chain.  With exposure to UVB radiation, their survival rate decreases by a high margin, unbalancing the whole marine food chain. Scientists have proofed that increase in UVB radiation leads to a reduction in the production of Phytoplankton. UVB radiation also affects the early development stages of shrimp, squids, fish, crab, amphibians and other marine creatures. It can also reduce reproductive rate, causing implications to the aquatic food chain. [5]

Solutions

Reduced usage of pesticides: Pesticides enormously lead to the degradation of the Ozone layer. People should weed farms manually and control pests using eco-friendly chemicals to reduce the rate of Ozone depletion.

Reduced number of private cars: Reducing the number of private vehicles will greatly decrease the greenhouse gases produced. Greenhouse gases create smog, which is a catalyst of the depletion of the Ozone layer.

Prohibition of the use of nitrous oxide: Nitrous oxide is a harmful chemical that destroys the Ozone layer. Governments should take action and prohibit the usage and production of nitrous oxide from reducing the Ozone depletion.

Encourage the utilization of environmentally friendly cleaning products: Most of the products used in households to clean contain harmful chemicals that accelerate the depletion of the Ozone layer. People should use environmentally friendly products to clean.

In conclusion, it is the responsibility of every person to conserve the environment. Governments should educate people on the effects of environmental degradation and the importance of maintaining the environment clean. A clean environment is friendly and promotes life in an eco-system.[6]

Bibliography

Dove, Jane. “Student teacher understanding of the greenhouse effect, ozone layer depletion and acid rain.” Environmental education research 2.1 (1996): 89-100.

Garcia, Rolando R. “Causes of ozone depletion.” Physics World 7, no. 4 (1994): 49.

Anwar, Fakhra, Fahad Nazir Chaudhry, Saiqa Nazeer, Noshila Zaman, and Saba Azam. “Causes of ozone layer depletion and its effects on human.” Atmospheric and Climate Sciences 6, no. 1 (2015): 129-134.

Norval, M., R. M. Lucas, A. P. Cullen, F. R. De Gruijl, J. Longstreth, Y. Takizawa, and J. C. Van Der Leun. “The human health effects of ozone depletion and interactions with climate change.” Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences 10, no. 2 (2011): 199-225

Worrest, Robert C., and Donat-P. Häder. “Effects of stratospheric ozone depletion on marine organisms.” Environmental conservation 16, no. 3 (1989): 261-263.

Danilin, Michael Y., Nien?Dak Sze, Malcolm KW Ko, Jose M. Rodriguez, and Azadeh Tabazadeh. “Stratospheric cooling and Arctic ozone recovery.” Geophysical research letters 25, no. 12 (1998): 2141-2144

[1] Dove, Jane. “Student teacher understanding of the greenhouse effect, ozone layer depletion and acid rain.” Environmental education research 2.1 (1996): 89-100.

[2] Garcia, Rolando R. “Causes of ozone depletion.” Physics World 7, no. 4 (1994): 49.

[3] Anwar, Fakhra, Fahad Nazir Chaudhry, Saiqa Nazeer, Noshila Zaman, and Saba Azam. “Causes of ozone layer depletion and its effects on human.” Atmospheric and Climate Sciences 6, no. 1 (2015): 129-134.

[4] Norval, M., R. M. Lucas, A. P. Cullen, F. R. De Gruijl, J. Longstreth, Y. Takizawa, and J. C. Van Der Leun. “The human health effects of ozone depletion and interactions with climate change.” Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences 10, no. 2 (2011): 199-225.

[5] Worrest, Robert C., and Donat-P. Häder. “Effects of stratospheric ozone depletion on marine organisms.” Environmental conservation 16, no. 3 (1989): 261-263.

[6] Danilin, Michael Y., Nien?Dak Sze, Malcolm KW Ko, Jose M. Rodriguez, and Azadeh Tabazadeh. “Stratospheric cooling and Arctic ozone recovery.” Geophysical research letters 25, no. 12 (1998): 2141-2144.