Title: [November free report] Ozone layer

Month 3, Report 2

 

The most of the Ultra voilent light from the sun is absorbed by the Earth's stratosphere's ozone layer, also known as the ozone shield. In comparison to other areas of the atmosphere, it has a high concentration of ozone (O3). The average ozone concentration in the Earth's atmosphere is about 0.3 parts per million, whereas the ozone layer has a concentration of fewer than 10 parts per million. Although its thickness varies seasonally and geographically, the ozone layer is primarily located in the lower stratosphere, from about 15 to 35 kilometers (9 to 22 mi) above Earth.

Only three ozone molecules exist in the atmosphere for every 10 million air molecules, making it a trace gas. But it performs a crucial function. The ozone layer acts like a sponge, soaking up sunrays that reach Earth. Although part of the sun's radiation is necessary for our survival, too much of it can harm living things. We can say, life on Earth is protected by the ozone layer- the protecting shield.

 

UV light, a form of radiation that can pass through the protective layers of organisms like skin, is well-trapped by ozone. If there is UV rays, then this might harm animal and plant DNA molecules. UVB and UVA are the two main subtypes of UV light. Due to various reasons, there is a thinning of the ozone layer year over year. It has been found that Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are major substances that contribute to the ozone layer's depletion. A CFC is a triatomic molecule made up of fluorine, chlorine, and carbon. CFCs are present almost everywhere, primarily in plastics and refrigerants. They are used by businesses and customers since they are affordable, don't burn quickly, and typically don't poison living things. However, once they are carried into the stratosphere, CFCs begin to deplete the ozone layer.

Ozone molecules, which are only three linked oxygen atoms, spontaneously break down and reform all the time. However, once ozone is broken down, CFCs in the air make it very difficult for it to rebuild. Only 0.00006 percent of the Earth's atmosphere is made up of the ozone layer, and it is continually becoming thinner.

Let’s know some Key facts:

-          Since 1986, there has been a dramatic decrease in the consumption of ODS (Ozone Depleting Substances) on a global scale. The 1987 Montreal Protocol established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has had a significant role in this reduction.

 

-          In September 2000, the ozone hole reached its biggest known size of 28.4 million km2. This area is roughly seven times the size of the entire EU.

 

-          The Antarctic ozone hole's size peaked at 24.5 million km2 in late September 2022.

 

-          The Antarctic ozone hole has been comparable in size and duration to those in 2021 and 2020 up until the beginning of November 2022.

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