The document summarizes ozone layer depletion by discussing the structure and purpose of the ozone layer. It then explains that human activities like releasing CFCs are depleting the ozone layer. This poses risks like increased UV exposure, which can harm humans, animals, and plants. The document also outlines scientific theories behind ozone formation and destruction, and solutions taken like the Montreal Protocol to regulate damaging chemicals.
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The document summarizes ozone layer depletion by discussing the structure and purpose of the ozone layer. It then explains that human activities like releasing CFCs are depleting the ozone layer. This poses risks like increased UV exposure, which can harm humans, animals, and plants. The document also outlines scientific theories behind ozone formation and destruction, and solutions taken like the Montreal Protocol to regulate damaging chemicals.
The document summarizes ozone layer depletion by discussing the structure and purpose of the ozone layer. It then explains that human activities like releasing CFCs are depleting the ozone layer. This poses risks like increased UV exposure, which can harm humans, animals, and plants. The document also outlines scientific theories behind ozone formation and destruction, and solutions taken like the Montreal Protocol to regulate damaging chemicals.
Copyright:
Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
The document summarizes ozone layer depletion by discussing the structure and purpose of the ozone layer. It then explains that human activities like releasing CFCs are depleting the ozone layer. This poses risks like increased UV exposure, which can harm humans, animals, and plants. The document also outlines scientific theories behind ozone formation and destruction, and solutions taken like the Montreal Protocol to regulate damaging chemicals.
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Ozone Layer Depletion
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 What is ozone? 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. Ozone in the atmosphere The ozone layer Ultraviolet protection by ozone
Ozone absorbs UV light in the solar irradiation that is
harmful to life Ultraviolet protection by ozone
The overlap of ground level radiation with the
sunburn sensitivity curve would be much greater without the filtering effects of the ozone layer. Ozone formation and destruction in the stratosphere Chapman Theory
• O2+ hv (<242nm) -> 2O formatio
b) O+O2+M -> O3+M n
c) O3 + hv (<320nm)O +O2 Destructio d) O + O32O2 n Where M is a random air molecule (O2 or N2) Steady-state [O3] k a kb [M ] 1/ 2 =( ) O3 [O 2] kc kd concentration Chapman theory describes how sunlight converts the various forms of oxygen from one to another, explains why the highest content of ozone occur in the layer between 15 and 50 km, Prediction by Chapman theory vs. Observation
Using Chapman theory
There must be other O3 destruction pathways Catalytic ozone destruction X + O3 = XO + O2 XO + O = X + O2 Net reaction O + O3 = 2 O2
X is a regenerated in the process – act as a
catalyst. The chain reaction continues until X is removed by some side reaction. The important catalysts for stratospheric O3 destruction Hydroxy radical (OH) . OH + O3 = HO2. + O2 HOx cycle HO2. + O = .OH + O2 Net: O + O3 = 2 O2 Chlorine and bromine (Cl and Br) . . ClOx cycle Cl + O3 = ClO + O2 ClO. + O = Cl. + O2 Net: O + O3 = 2 O2 Nitric oxide (NO) NOx cycle NO + O3 = NO2 + O2 NO2 + O = NO + O2 Net: O + O3 = 2 O2 The two-sided effect of NOx NOx provides a catalytic chain mechanism for O3 destruction. NOx inhibit the HOx and ClOx cycles for O3 destruction by removing radical species in the two cycles. The relative magnitude of the two effects is altitude dependent. >25 km, the net effect is to destruct O3. (NOx accounts for >50% of total ozone destruction in the middle and upper troposphere.) In the lower stratosphere, the net effect is to protect O3 from destruction. The catalytic destruction reactions described so far, together with the Chapman cycle, account for the observed average levels of stratospheric ozone, they are unable to account for the ozone hole over Antarctica.
The ozone depletion in the Antarctica is limited
both regionally and seasonally. The depletion is too great and too sudden. These observations can not be explained by catalytic O3 destruction by ClOx alone. 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, Chlorine atom Sources: Photolysis of Cl-containing compounds in the stratosphere. CFCl3 + hv (185-210nm) CFCl2. + Cl. CF2Cl2 + hv (185-210nm) CF2Cl. + Cl. Subsequent reactions of CFCl2 and CF2Cl more Cl atoms The principal Cl-containing species are: CF2Cl2, CFCl3, Sources CFCl2, CF2Cl, for Cl-containing CCl4, CH3CCl3, compounds (need to be CF2HCl,inCH3Cl long-lived the troposphere) •Man-made: e.g. CFCs •Natural: e.g. methyl chloride from biomass burning. Chlorine atom (Continued) Termination reactions for Cl Cl. + CH4 CH3. + HCl Stable in the stratosphere Removed from air by precipitation when it migrates to the troposphere
ClO. + NO2 + M ClONO2 + M
Reservoir species Relatively unreactive but can regenerate reactive species upon suitable conditions ClONO2 + hv ClO + NO2 Nitric oxide NO is produced abundantly in the troposphere, but all of it is converted into NO2 HNO3 (removed through precipitation) NO in the stratosphere produced from nitrous oxide (N2O), which is much less reactive than NO. N2O + hv N2 + O (90%) N2O + O 2 NO (~10%) Removal processes: Inhibit the NO2 + .OH HNO3 HOx and ClOx cycles ClO. + NO2 ClONO2 Hydroxy radical Accounts for nearly one-half of the total ozone destruction in the lower stratosphere (16-20 km). Sources O3 + hv (<325nm) = O2 + O1D (2%) = O2 + O3P (98%) O1D + H2O = 2 .OH (major)
O1D + CH4 = .OH +CH3. (minor)
Termination reaction . OH + NO2 HNO3 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)
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
