PROJECT

To Prepare a Project Report to Depict

Ozone Layer, its Depeletion & Solutions.

Submitted by:-Prerna
Roll.no:- 39
Class:- 10th
Sec :- “D”
 Introduction
 Ozone is a bluish gas located in the stratosphere which protects the earth by
absorbing UV-B and prevents this harmful radiation from reaching the earth.

 Research has shown that the ozone is slowly being depleted.

 We will discuss:

 The causes of ozone depletion

 The impacts ozone depletion has on the environment

 The current status of the ozone

 Solutions to the problem

 Ozone is a stable molecule composed of three oxygen atoms.

While stable, it is highly reactive. The Greek word ozein means “to
smell” and O3 has a strong pungent odor. Electric discharges in air often
produce significant quantities of O3 and you may have smelled O3 near
these sources.
Ultraviolet protection by ozone

Ozone absorbs UV light in the solar irradiation that is harmful to life

The Ozone Layer

The ozone layer is a layer in Earth's atmosphere which contains relatively high
concentrations of ozone (O3). This layer absorbs 97-99% of the sun's high frequency
ultraviolet light, which is potentially damaging to life on earth. Over 90% of ozone in
earth's atmosphere is present here "Relatively high" means a few parts per million—
much higher than the concentrations in the lower atmosphere but still small compared to
the main components of the atmosphere. It is mainly located in the lower portion of the
stratosphere from approximately 15 km to 35 km above Earth's surface, though the
thickness varies seasonally and geographically.

A dobson unit is the most basic measure used in ozone research.One Dobson Unit
(DU) is defined to be 0.01 mm thickness at STP (standard temperature and pressure).
Ozone layer thickness is expressed in terms of Dobson units, which measure what its
physical thickness would be if compressed in the Earth's atmosphere. In those terms,
it's very thin indeed. A normal range is 300 to 500 Dobson units, which translates to an
eighth of an inch-basically two stacked pennies. 
 

 
In space, it's best not to envision the ozone layer as a distinct, measurable band.
Instead, think of it in terms of parts per million concentrations in the stratosphere (the
layer six to 30 miles above the Earth's surface).

The unit is named after G.M.B. Dobson, one of the first scientists to investigate
atmospheric ozone .

A thinning ozone layer leads to a number of serious health risks for humans. It causes
greater incidences of skin cancer and cataract of the eye, with children being
particularly vulnerable. There are also serious impacts for biodiversity. Increased UV-B
rays reduce levels of plankton in the oceans and subsequently diminish fish stocks. It
can also have adverse effects on plant growth, thus reducing agricultural productivity.
Another negative effect is the reduced lifespan of certain materials.
Severe depletion of the Antarctic ozone layer was first observed in the early 1980s. The
international response embodied in the Montreal Protocol. Today 191 countries
worldwide have signed the Montreal Protocol which is widely regarded as the most
successful Multinational Environmental Agreement ever reached to date.

Furthermore the phasing out of ozone depleting substances (ODS) has helped to fight
climate change since many ODS are also powerful greenhouse gases.
 
Causes Of Depletion
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the discovery of an “ozone
hole” over Antarctica in 1985 focused attention on the idea that humans can have
a significant impact on the global environment. There are also a number of
natural causes of ozone depletion.

When the following substances reach the stratosphere, they break down under
intense ultraviolet light, and release chlorine or bromine atoms, which degrade
the ozone.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

 CFCs is the abbreviated form of ChloroFluoroCarbons, a collective name given

to a series of compounds containing chlorine, fluorine and carbon atoms.
Examples: CFCl3, CF2Cl2, and CF2ClCFCl2.

 Related names

 HCFCs: Hydrochloroflorocarbons, halocarbons containing hydrogen

atoms in addition to chlorine, fluorine and carbon atoms.

 HFCs: hydroflorocarbons, halocarbons containing atoms of hydrogen in

addition to fluorine and carbon atoms.

 Perhalocarbons: halocarbons in which every available carbon bond

contains a haloatoms.

 Halons: bromine-containing halocarbons, especially used as fire

extinguishing agents.

Chlorine atom

Sources:

Photolysis of Cl-containing compounds in the stratosphere.

CFCl3 + hv (185-210nm) à CFCl2. + Cl.

CF2Cl2 + hv (185-210nm) à CF2Cl. + Cl.

Subsequent reactions of CFCl2 and CF2Cl à more Cl atoms

The principal Cl-containing species are:

CF2Cl2, CFCl3, CFCl2, CF2Cl, CCl4, CH3CCl3, CF2HCl, CH3Cl

Sources for Cl-containing compounds (need to be long-lived in the troposphere)

• Man-made: e.g. CFCs

• Natural: e.g. methyl chloride from biomass burning.

How Humans Cause Depletion

 CFC’s (chlorofluorocarbons)

 Coolants for refrigerators

 Aerosol propellants

 Cleaning solvents

 Electric equipment

 Blowing agents to produce plastic foam and insulation

 Halon

 Fire Extinguishing agent (only until 1994)

 Carbon Tetra Chloride

 Fire Extinguishers

 Aerosol Spray Propellants

 Dry Cleaning

 Methyl Chloroform

 Industrial Solvents

Natural Causes of Ozone Depletion

 Aerosols emitted from:
  Volcanic Eruptions

 The Ocean

 Cow Farts

 Burning Fossil Fuels

Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP)

The ratio of the impact on ozone of a chemical compared to the impact of a
similar mass of CFC-11.

Ozone Depletion Potentials (ODP)

7
6
5
ODP 4
(averages) 3
2
1
0
CFC's Halons Carbon Tetra Methyl
Chloride Chloroform

Substances
Environmental Impacts
 Increase in UV-B reaching the earth’s surface, which causes harm to :

 Humans

 Animals

 Plants and Agriculture

 The Ocean and Aquatic Ecosystems

Impact on Humans and Animals

 Damaging health effects primarily with skin, eyes, and immune system

 Reduced air quality

 Human exposure to UV-B depends on

 Individual’s location

 Duration and timing of outdoor activities

 Precautionary behavior

 Skin color and age

Plants and Agriculture

 Reduction of air quality reduces crop yields

 Decrease in photosynthetic activity

 Susceptibility to disease

 Changes in plant structure and pigmentation

 Retardation of growth
  Field Study: Soybean Harvests

Ocean and Aquatic Ecosystems

 Diminishes productivity of the oceans

 Decreases species such as fish and shrimp

 Humans and other consumers are dependent on these higher species

 Populations outside the local ecosystem are potentially at risk

Status of Ozone Depletion

 Ban of production and consumption of compounds that deplete the ozone layer.

 Air Quality Improvements

 Statistically

 New Technology

Solutions
 Many substitute products have been made

 Increased public knowledge of ozone depletion

 New Technology

 Policy and Regulations

Policy
 1987, The Montreal Protocol was signed
  Ban of CFC production

 More than 160 countries have signed the treaty

 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments

 Established U.S. regulatory program to protect the stratospheric ozone

layer

 Individual and Corporate Responsibility.