Can the Ozone layer Survive?
Ozone?
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The ozone layer is an important part of this planet. it is a band of naturally occurring ozone gas that sits 10 to 19 miles approximately 20 - 30 kilometres above the planet. Its main function is to limit the sun of its ultraviolet radiation which has a higher tendency of causing a great deal of harm to the earth and its inhabitants. Simply what it does is to absorb the emission from the sun to amounts necessary for life on earth. In the midst of higher rate of sunburn, increasing skin diseases, eyes damaging, destruction of marine life, plant growth reduction, imbalance of atmospheric gases, weakening immunity, degradation of fabric and loss biodiversity you realize that a war against nature only ends up causing much harm to yourself. Living a life devoid of the effects stated above will be like having a glimpse of heaven. Yet we fail in making it so by our actions and inventions. There is a decreasing pattern of the concentration of the ozone in the atmosphere. Widening holes have been created in the ozone which means we are currently experience higher emissions of ultraviolet rays.
Causes of the Ozone Depletion
CFC
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As far as the subject one depletion is concern, CFC is the major contributor. Chlorofluorocarbons are organic chemicals containing carbon, fluorine and chlorine. Upon its discovery in 1928 by Thomas Midgley in his quest for a non-toxic refrigerant and its usefulness as a propellant in aerosol cans, it was widely accepted as a great helper only to be discovered as a giant killer with its effect now to be paid for. CFCs are highly stable in the atmosphere and it takes quiet a longer time of them to break down. It cannot be washed off from the atmosphere by rain nor do they by any mean react with other chemicals to cross out its effect. They are can only be broken out by ultraviolet rays. This effect leads to the release of a free chlorine with reacts with oxygen to produce chemicals capable of destroying ozone molecules. This process of ozone destruction repeats itself many times
CO2
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Like most of us have it in mind, CO2 does not contribute to ozone layer depletion. Yet it in a way affects the recovery of ozone by slowing down the process. It affects it in manner which varies in latitude, altitude and time of the year
Volcano Ash
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Massive cloud of volcano ashes is produce during volcano eruption. These ashes most contain halogens eg Bromine and chlorine which are high stable in the atmosphere. As the ashes surpasses the troposphere further into the stratosphere, it reacts with the ozone molecules and destroys it
Major Activities of Man affecting the Ozone
Industrialization
As communities are advancing and there has been a shift from having food, shelter and cloth as a basic need to building and developing our world, a lot has been caused to the environment. The industrialization has led to development in diverse areas like agriculture, manufacturing sector, coal, timber, bottling plants, automobiles, gas and chemicals. All of these advancement has a negative mark they live on our environment and the ozone. Chemicals, flue gases and other gases which are unwanted by industries are release into by the atmosphere.
Deforestation
As over population increase we widen our territories by cutting down trees and resettling there. The benefits of the trees, thus sequestration of the atmospheric carbon is in a shake as we break new grounds and reside thereof.
The Way Forward
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In 1992, an open agreement was made at Rio de Janeiro to combat greenhouse gas emissions with an objective to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. Conferences of the Parties (COP) held in 1995 was to assess progress in dealing with climate change. Kyoto protocol was concluded and established legally binding obligations for developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in the period 2008-2012. in 1997. Cancún agreements was purposely held to state that future global warming should be limited to below 2.0 °C (3.6 °F) relative to the pre-industrial level. this took place in 2015. The current and ongoing agreement set by the UNFCCC
is the Paris Agreement Held in 2015. Meetings has been held annually to deliberate and access progress in goal acheiving.
Conclusion
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The future of the Ozone layer lies in our hands. our little comportment and behavioral change can sustain the earth if not making it better. Ranging from usage of electricity, cars, refrigerators, cutting down of trees and release of harmful gaseous substance lets have it at the back of our minds to care for the planet. We have only one earth we live for. We kill it, we die with it.
References:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Framework_Convention_on_Climate_Change
- https://www.statcan.gc.ca/edu/power-pouvoir/ch5/casestudy-edudedecas/5214797-eng.htm
- https://www.quora.com/How-many-molecules-of-ozone-are-broken-by-a-single-molecule-of-CFS
- https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorofluorocarbon