OZONE OZONE DEPLETIONDEPLETION

Eric Lin, Cody LuEric Lin, Cody Lu

Natalie Qin, Silvia ShiNatalie Qin, Silvia Shi

The ozone layer is essential to The ozone layer is essential to organisms because it protects them organisms because it protects them

from harmful effects of the sun. from harmful effects of the sun. A major issue for our planet is the A major issue for our planet is the

depletion of the ozone layer. depletion of the ozone layer.

Q. What is ozone depletion and Q. What is ozone depletion and how is it affecting our ecosystem? how is it affecting our ecosystem? 

WHAT IS OZONE?WHAT IS OZONE?

Ozone is a highly reactive gas Ozone is a highly reactive gas composed of three oxygen atoms.composed of three oxygen atoms.

There is only 3 molecules of ozone for every ten There is only 3 molecules of ozone for every ten million molecules of air. million molecules of air.

WHAT IS THE OZONE LAYER?The ozone layer is a deep layer of invisible gas in the stratosphere, encircling the Earth, that has

large amounts of ozone in it.

Where Where

is the is the

OzoneOzone

layer?layer?

WHAT IS OZONE DEPLETION?WHAT IS OZONE DEPLETION?

Due to human activity, the ozone layer is getting Due to human activity, the ozone layer is getting weaker, causing a hole to appear and weaker, causing a hole to appear and ultraviolet rays to enter into the Earth.ultraviolet rays to enter into the Earth.

WHAT ARE ULTRAVIOLET (UV) WHAT ARE ULTRAVIOLET (UV) RAYS?RAYS?

U.V. rays are the most common and harmful rays that U.V. rays are the most common and harmful rays that come to Earth from the sun.come to Earth from the sun.

WHY DO WE NEED TO KNOW WHY DO WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE?WHAT THEY ARE?

They are an important effect of ozone depletion that has They are an important effect of ozone depletion that has a variety of problems for living organisms associated a variety of problems for living organisms associated with it.with it.

The Dobson Unit is the most common unit for measuring ozone concentration 100 Dobson units – Least Amount of Ozone500 Dobson units – Most Amount

CAUSE OF OZONE DEPLETIONCAUSE OF OZONE DEPLETION

• CChlorohloroffluoroluoroccarbons (CFC) - a chemical arbons (CFC) - a chemical used to make refrigerators, home used to make refrigerators, home insulation, plastic foam, and throwaway insulation, plastic foam, and throwaway food containers. food containers. – Discovered in the 1930s by scientist Thomas Discovered in the 1930s by scientist Thomas

Midgley.Midgley.– Non-toxic, non-flammable, and non-reactive Non-toxic, non-flammable, and non-reactive

with other chemical compounds. with other chemical compounds. – Made up of chlorine, fluoride, and carbon.Made up of chlorine, fluoride, and carbon.

The Destruction of Ozone

• CFCs are transported to the stratosphere

• It is broken down by ultraviolet rays

• Releases chlorine, which then becomes part of the process that destroys ozone

• The ozone molecule is replaced by oxygen molecules

• The chlorine can deplete the ozone up to 100,000 times faster than unabated depletion

Ozone-Oxygen CycleOzone-Oxygen Cycle• Free radicals, Free radicals,

like chlorine , like chlorine , act as act as catalysts to the catalysts to the decomposition decomposition step (breaking step (breaking down ozone)down ozone)

• These These catalysts catalysts speed up the speed up the reaction.reaction.

• DISEASESDISEASES- UV rays are the most common and harmful rays that - UV rays are the most common and harmful rays that come to Earth from the sun.come to Earth from the sun.~ Causes skin cancer and kills the environment~ Causes skin cancer and kills the environment

~EPA estimates, by 2075, 60 million people will get ~EPA estimates, by 2075, 60 million people will get skin cancer, 10 million of that population is expected skin cancer, 10 million of that population is expected to die.to die.

• LIFE CYCLES (Introduction)LIFE CYCLES (Introduction)- Disrupts flow of food chain because of decreased - Disrupts flow of food chain because of decreased

reproduction.reproduction.-Simple organisms could be wiped out resulting in -Simple organisms could be wiped out resulting in

biological disruptions for some species above them.biological disruptions for some species above them.

EFFECTS OF OZONE DEPLETIONEFFECTS OF OZONE DEPLETION

PLANT LIFEPLANT LIFE• 100 out of 200 plants are 100 out of 200 plants are sensitive to ozone depletion. sensitive to ozone depletion.

(50%)(50%)• If food chains are disrupted, If food chains are disrupted, consumers won’t have anything consumers won’t have anything

to feed on.to feed on.

OCEAN LIFE• Plankton would be affected

(they won’t be able to survive)• Fish wouldn’t have the nutrients

they need.• The fish will die out, and the

secondary consumers won’t have anything to feed on and they will eventually die out as well.

SOLUTIONS THAT ADDRESS SOLUTIONS THAT ADDRESS OZONE DEPLETION  OZONE DEPLETION 

– Don’t use the air conditioner or use it less often. Open up Don’t use the air conditioner or use it less often. Open up windows. windows.

– Don’t open the refrigerator for too long. Get only what you Don’t open the refrigerator for too long. Get only what you need, don’t linger. need, don’t linger.

– Refrain from using aerosol cans. You can use paper towels to Refrain from using aerosol cans. You can use paper towels to wipe off the dust. wipe off the dust.

– Fire extinguishers are essential, but to prevent using it, you Fire extinguishers are essential, but to prevent using it, you can try to prevent fires from occurring. can try to prevent fires from occurring.

– Don’t use hairsprays. Don’t use hairsprays.

– Montreal Protocol: an international agreement to discontinue Montreal Protocol: an international agreement to discontinue products with harmful chemicals affecting the ozone layer products with harmful chemicals affecting the ozone layer and instead replace them for an ozone friendly brand.and instead replace them for an ozone friendly brand.

GOOD NEWSGOOD NEWSThe ozone layer should The ozone layer should recover in fifty years if recover in fifty years if

there are no further there are no further harmful effects. harmful effects.

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