Nature Essay: Ozone (Essay Sample)

Ozone
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Ozone
Ozone is a molecule that consists of three oxygen atoms, that react strongly when they collide with other molecules. High energy sun’s radiations called UV makes O2 molecule to split in the stratosphere, thereby creating ozone. The free oxygen atoms come into contact and react with other O2 molecules forming O3 which is the chemical formula for Ozone.
Ozone layer is called stratosphere at approximately altitude of 6.2 miles (equivalent to 10 km) that contains ozone molecules. About 90% of ozone is concentrated in the ozone layer and is significant because it absorbs sun’s ultraviolet radiation B (UVB) reaching earth.
NASA Researchers who studied atmospheric properties around the South Pole between 1985 to 1988 noticed significant reduction in the ozone concentrations directly over Antarctica. The researchers kept concluding it as incorrect results citing instrument malfunctioning but in 1988 they confirmed of the ozone hole over Antarctica (Rahn, 2013).
The ozone depletion occurs when hydrofluorocarbons (HCFCs), chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and other ozone depleting substances (ODS), used widely as insulating foams, refrigerants and solvents are released in the ozone layer. Although CFCs are heavier than air, they are gradually carried in the stratosphere in a span of about 2 to 5 years. When the CFCs and the ODS reach the ozone layer, the sun’s ultraviolet radiation causes them to be broken down releasing chlorine atoms that in turn react with ozone starting destructive chemical cycles of ozone that deplete the ozone layer (Sivasakthivel, et al. 2011). 1 chlorine atom is capable of breaking up to 100,000 Ozone molecules.
Depletion of Ozone layer has many negative effects. As stated in this paper earlier, the ozone absorbs most of the UV radiations which is harmful. UVB radiations can cause biological harms such as causing cataracts, skin cancer and damage to plastics. It can also be a harmful toxic to the plants and marine organisms. UV at the troposphere around the ground level is also the main cause of smog (Sivasakthivel, et al. 2011). There is some amount of UVB that reaches the earth’s surface without the ozone depletion but the problem of depletion means that the harmful effects of UVB will increase.
What is being done about ozone depletion?
After the ozone hole was confirmed in 1988 above the continent of Antarctic, the need for a robust worldwide response had to be taken. It is then when Montreal Protocol was signed and 46 nations were signatories of the treaty in support of committing themselves to reduce CFCs usage and other ODS. The treaty has been amended several times since then to fast-track the CFCs, HCFCs and ODS phase-out. Today, the treaty has been ratif...