OZONE LAYER

DEPLETION

What is Ozone?

OCCURRENCE:
It is mainly found in:
Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere

What is ozone
layer?

 Ozone layer is a thin, fragile

shield that contains relatively
high concentrations of ozone.
It shields the entire Earth
from much of the harmful UV
radiation that comes from
the sun.

 In the 1970s, the scientists

discovered that the ozone
layer is being depleted.

Past, present and

Predicted
Condition of
Ozone layer, if it
goes on
depleting

Ozone Hole
Ozone Hole more
accurate ozone
thinning.
Warming at end of
winter releases
frozen chemicals
destroying ozone.

Causes of Ozone Depletion

The main causes of why ozone layer is now being destroyed at a

faster rate than it was being naturally produced are the.

Manufactured
Chemicals

Ozone layer is being

destroyed by a group of
manufactured chemicals that
are called ODS or OzoneDepleting Substances.

The main ODS are the following:

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC 11, CFC 12, CFC
13)
Methyl bromide (CH3Br)
Halons (halon-1211, halon-1301, halon2402)
Carbon tetrachloride (CCI4)
Hydrochloroluorocarbons (HCFC 22 and
HCFC 123)

The Process of ODS Reaching the

Atmosphere

Effects of Ozone
Depletion

Every time 1% of the ozone layer is depleted,

2% more UV-B is able to reach the surface of the
planet. UV-B increase is one of the most harmful
consequences of ozone depletion.

The effect of ozone

depletion is the increased
UV-B radiation reaching
Earths surface.
Effects on Humans
Sunburn
Sun-damaged skin
Cataracts
Snow blindness
Skin cancer


Reduced effectiveness of
immune system

Respiratory illness and

heart problems

OZONE HOLE AND CLIMATE CHANGE

e ozone hole does not directly affect air

mperatures in the troposphere, the layer of th
mosphere closest to the surface, although chan
circulation over Antarctica related to the ozone
le appear to be changing surface temperature
terns over that continent

OZONE DEPLETION
IS ALSO AFFECTING
OUR OLDEST HOME :
OCEAN

Phytoplankton and zooplankton, microscopic marine

organisms which play crucial roles in complex ecological
food webs, are sensitive to UV radiation.

ecause UV-B radiation is absorbed by only a few

ayers of cells, large organisms are more protected,
whilst smaller ones, such as unicellular organisms
n aquatic ecosystems, are among the most severely
affected by UV radiation

Research indicates that many plankton species

already seem to be at or near their maximum
tolerance of UV radiation. Thus, even small increase
in UV-B levels may have a dramatic impact on
plankton life and on entire marine ecosystems.

If ozone-layer depletion reached 15% over tempera

waters, it would take less than five days in summer
for half the zooplankton in the top metre of these
waters to die from the increased radiation.

EFFECT S ON AGRICULTURE

1.Several of the world's major crop species are

particularly vulnerable to increased UV, resulting
in reduced growth, photosynthesis and flowering.
These species include wheat, rice, barley, soybean
peas, tomatoes, cauliflower, broccoli and carrots.

2.Plant growth, especially in seedlings, is harmed

by more intense UV radiation.

EFFECTS ON ANIMALS

In domestic animals, UV overexposure may cause

eye and skin cancers. Species of marine animals in
their developmental stage (e.g. young fish, shrimp
larvae and crab larvae) have been threatened in
recent years by the increased UV radiation under
the Antarctic ozone hole.

EFFECT ON MATERIALS
Wood, plastic, rubber, fabrics and many
construction materials are degraded by UV
radiation.

The economic impact of replacing and/or

protecting materials could be significant.

Impacts
Marine
Ecosystem
s

Humans

Air Quality

Terrestrial
Ecosystem
s

Materials

Mitigations

When
an
ozone
hole
was
discovered, several countries unite to
prevent the continuous depletion of
the ozone layer by implementing
policies
and
other
preventive
measures.
The
Montreal
Protocol
on
Substances that Deplete the Ozone
Layer

Scope of Protocol
The Montreal Protocol is an international
agreement adopted in 1987 to control the
production and consumption of specific manmade chemicals that destroy the ozone layer,
the earths protective shield.
An agreement /mechanism to reduce and
eliminate the production and consumption of
ODS
Developed and developing countries have
different phase out schedules

Results to date

The Montreal Protocol is working. There is clear

evidence of a decrease in the atmospheric
burden of ozone-depleting substances in the
lower atmosphere and in the stratosphere;

Some early signs of the expected stratospheric

ozone recovery are also evident.

Furthermore, if the Parties were to eliminate all

emissions of ozone depleting substances soon
after 2006, it would advance by about 15 years
(from around 2050 to 2035) the global ozone
layer recovery to pre-1980 levels
34

Conclusions
And
Recommendations

Be
informe
d
Be
remind
ed

Understa
nd

Sustainabl
e
developm
ent
Know our
responsibiliti
es

Follow
Educat
e
ourselv
es

at last it is all up to us
To save our MOTHER
EARTH

RESPECT
NATURE
RESPECT
EARTH

THIS IS NOT ENOUGH

. TO UNDERSTAND THE
NATURAL WORLD
THE POINT IS TO DEFEND
AND PRESERVE IT.