Significant ideas:

1) Stratospheric ozone is a key component of the

atmospheric system because it protects living systems
from the negative effects of ultraviolet radiation from
the Sun.
2) Human activities have disturbed the dynamic
equilibrium of stratospheric ozone formation.
3) Pollution management strategies are being employed
to conserve stratospheric ozone.
Rowland and Molina's warnings about CFCs and ozone depletion,
followed by the discovery of the ozone hole, spurred the
negotiation of several international agreements to protect the
ozone layer, leading eventually to a worldwide ban on CFC
production in 1996
Stratospheric ozone is a key component of the atmospheric
system because it protects living systems from the negative
effects of ultraviolet radiation from the Sun
• What issues have you heard regarding the ozone layer?

https://geekswipe.net/research/nature/ozone-layer-will-take-50-years-to-recover-2070/
Stratospheric ozone is a key component of the atmospheric
system because it protects living systems from the negative
effects of ultraviolet radiation from the Sun
• Stratospheric ozone
(O3) is important
because it absorbs
UV radiation
• Ground-level ozone
(also O3) is bad
because it
contributes to smog.
• The molecules are
the same, but their
roles are different
depending on where
they are located in
https://scied.ucar.edu/ozone-layer
6.2.U1 Some ultraviolet radiation from the Sun is absorbed by
stratospheric ozone causing the ozone molecule to break apart.
Under normal conditions the ozone molecule will reform. This
ozone destruction and reformation is an example of a dynamic
equilibrium.

• Some ultraviolet
radiation from the
Sun is absorbed by
stratospheric
ozone causing the
ozone molecules
to break apart

http://www.theozonehole.com/ozonecreation.htm
6.2.U1 Some ultraviolet radiation from the Sun is absorbed by
stratospheric ozone causing the ozone molecule to break apart.
Under normal conditions the ozone molecule will reform. This
ozone destruction and reformation is an example of a dynamic
equilibrium.

• Some ultraviolet
radiation from the Sun is
absorbed by
stratospheric ozone
causing the ozone
molecules to break apart
• Under normal conditions
the ozone molecule will
reform. This ozone
destruction and
reformation is an
example of a dynamic
equilibrium
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone_layer
6.2.U2 Ozone depleting substances (in clouding halogenated organic gases
such as chlorofluorocarbons-CFCs) are used in aerosols, gas-blown plastics,
pesticides, flame retardants and refrigerants. Halogen atoms (such as chlorine)
from these pollutants increase destruction of ozone in a repetitive cycle,
allowing more ultraviolet radiation to reach the Earth
6.2.U2 Ozone depleting substances (in clouding halogenated
organic gases such as chlorofluorocarbons-CFCs) are used in
aerosols, gas-blown plastics, pesticides, flame retardants and
refrigerants. Halogen atoms (such as chlorine) from these
pollutants increase destruction of ozone in a repetitive cycle,
allowing more ultraviolet radiation to reach the Earth
• How ozone is depleted by CFC’s:

Click on the image to watch a video on ozone depletion

6.2.U2 Ozone depleting substances (in clouding halogenated
organic gases such as chlorofluorocarbons-CFCs) are used in
aerosols, gas-blown plastics, pesticides, flame retardants and
refrigerants. Halogen atoms (such as chlorine) from these
pollutants increase destruction of ozone in a repetitive cycle,
allowing more ultraviolet radiation to reach the Earth

Click on the image to watch a video on ozone depletion

 How did we manage the
depletion of ozone layer?

What are the effects of

exposure to UV?
6.1U3 Ultraviolet radiation reaching the surface of the Earth
damages human living tissues increasing the incidence of
cataracts, mutations during cell division, skin cancer and other
subsequent effects on health

https://www.gayaopticians.com/uv-an-invisible-danger/
6.1U3 Ultraviolet radiation reaching the surface of the Earth
damages human living tissues increasing the incidence of
cataracts, mutations during cell division, skin cancer and other
subsequent effects on health

• DNA readily absorbs UV-B

radiation, which
commonly changes the
shape of the molecule
• Changes often mean that
protein-building enzymes
cannot “read” the DNA
code at that point on the
molecule.
• As a result, distorted
proteins can be made, or
cells can die.
https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/UVB
6.1U3 Ultraviolet radiation reaching the surface of the Earth
damages human living tissues increasing the incidence of
cataracts, mutations during cell division, skin cancer and other
subsequent effects on health

https://freeness.us/gel-manicures-linked-to-skin-cancer/
6.1U3 Ultraviolet radiation reaching the surface of the Earth
damages human living tissues increasing the incidence of
cataracts, mutations during cell division, skin cancer and other
subsequent effects on health
Beneficial Effects of UV
• In animals stimulates the production of Vit D.
• Treat psoriasis and vitiligo (skin diseases)
• Steriliser, water purifier
• Forensics, lighting, lasers
6.2.U4 The effects of increased ultraviolet radiation on biological
productivity include damage to photosynthetic organisms,
especially phytoplankton which form the basis of aquatic food
webs
• Phytoplankton do not
exist in isolation
• Other microbes, the
protozoa, bacteria and
viruses, can be directly
damaged or killed by
solar UVB.
• Due to the interactions
between trophic levels of
the microbial community,
any UVB-induced impact
at one level can alter the
entire community

http://www.antarctica.gov.au/magazine/2001-2005/issue-1-autumn-2001/science/effect-of-ozone-
depletion-on-antarctic-marine-microbes
6.2.U4 The effects of increased ultraviolet radiation on biological
productivity include damage to photosynthetic organisms,
especially phytoplankton which form the basis of aquatic food
webs
• Plants are vulnerable to increased UV-B radiation because many
cellular components can absorb UV directly
• Increased UV-B radiation has many effects on plant morphology,
physiology and development, and its impacts on growth and
development
• Reduction in biomass accumulation due to UV-B exposure has been
verified
• Many plants exposed to this radiation exhibit decreased rates of
photosynthesis
Pollution management strategies are being employed to conserve
stratospheric ozone
From most effective
strategy to the least
effective:
• Tier 1: Eliminate
the production of
ozone-depleting
chemicals in the
first place
• Tier 2: Minimize
the release of
those chemicals
into the
stratosphere
• Tier 3: Remove
ozone-depleting
compounds from
the atmosphere https://blogs.worldbank.org/voices/celebrating-25-years-of-the-montreal-protocol
6.2U5 Pollution management may be achieved by reducing the
manufacture and release of ozone-depleting substances. Methods
for this reduction include:
• Recycling refrigerants
• Explain why this is a
Tier 2 pollution
management strategy
• Developing alternatives to
gas-blown plastics,
halogenated pesticides,
propellants and aerosols
• Explain why this is a
Tier 1 pollution
management strategy
https://www.agasamericas.com/products-services/refrigerants/
6.2U6 UNEP has had a key role in providing information and
creating and evaluating international agreements, for the
protection of stratospheric ozone.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of international
contributors as a pollution management strategy
6.2.U8 The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the
Ozone Layer (1987) and subsequent updates is an international
agreement for the reduction of use of ozone-depleting substances
signed under the direction of UNEP. National governments
complying with the agreement made national laws and regulations
to decrease the consumption and production of halogenated
organic gases such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Why is the Montreal

Protocol regarded as one
of the most successful
international
environmental
agreements in history?
Justify your response
with evidence, named
examples, and/or specific
case studies

http://www.theozonehole.com/dualbenefits.htm
6.2.A1 Evaluate the role of national and international
organizations in reducing the emissions of ozone-depleting
substances
In the US
• Government ratified Montreal Protocol agreeing stop
production of CFC propellants
• Taxes levied on CFC production and use
• Corporations changing their ways
• McDonalds (1987) – stopped use of Styrofoam packaging
• Caused foam packaging industry to stop use of all CFCs by 1988
https://www.climateforesight.eu/articles/success-or-failure-the-kyoto-protocols-troubled-legacy/
6.2.U7 An illegal market for ozone-depleting substances persists
and requires consistent monitoring

• CFC emissions should

have followed the blue
trend line, according to
numbers reported to the
UN
• However two different
monitoring methods (red
and orange trend lines)
show that CFC emissions
started to rise again in
2012

https://gosint.wordpress.com/2018/05/18/the-rise-of-the-cfc-an-atmospheric-spy-thriller/
6.2.U7 An illegal market for ozone-depleting substances persists
and requires consistent monitoring

• Data points indicate

the source is north
of the equator and
somewhere in
eastern Asia

https://gosint.wordpress.com/2018/05/18/the-rise-of-the-cfc-an-atmospheric-spy-thriller/
6.2.U7 An illegal market for ozone-depleting substances persists
and requires consistent monitoring