The Ozone Layer

BY: La Tisha Reed &Cecilia Cervantes

What is the Ozone Layer??The ozone layer is a deep layer in the stratosphere

( which is the second major layer of earths atmosphere) encircling the earth. That protects humans and other organism from the UV radiation.

This layer shields the entire earth from much of the harmful ultraviolet radiation that comes from the sun.

It absorbs 97-99% of the suns high frequency ultraviolet light, which is potentially damaging to the life form on earth.

The Ozone Hole in Antarctica The Antarctic ozone hole was reported to be as

big as North American (the fifth largest ever reported)

The ozone hole in Antarctica is most destructive during the spring, from September to early December

 The primary cause of ozone depletion in the Antarctic is the presence of chlorine-containing source gases

It’s a special form of oxygen, made up 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and about 1% trace gases.

Usually formswhen some type ofradiation or electrical discharge separates two atoms in an oxygen molecule which can then individually recombine with other oxygen molecules toForm an ozone.

These images from the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) show the progressive depletion of ozone over Antarctica from 1979 to 1999.

Negative Affects Of The Ozone Layer

• When ever a small amount of the ozone layer is lost more harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun can reach the Earth

The increase of cancer victims caused by exposure to the ultraviolet sun rays will rise. The EPA estimates that 60 million Americans born by the year 2075 will get skin cancer because of the ozone depletion.  About one million of these people will die

In addition to cancer, some research shows that a decreased ozone layer will increase rates of malaria and other infectious diseases

Oceans will be hit hard as well.  The most basic microscopic organisms such as plankton may not be able to survive.  If that happened, it would mean that all of the other animals that are above plankton in the food chain would also die out.  Other ecosystems such as forests and deserts will also be harmed

Problems with the Ozone Ozone itself is a type of oxygen but unlike the

oxygen we need to breath, it’s a poisonous gas.

It is the main ingredient of todays city smog and irritates

conditions like asthma and bronchitis diseases.

layer

What is being done to protect the ozone Layer??The ozone layer is now being constantly monitored.

It is predicted that by 2070, the ozone layer will have returned to pre-1980 levels.

What is being done about the ozone layer depletion? Ending the production, import and use of ozone-depleting

substances (ODS), often ahead of the Montreal Protocol schedule

Ensuring that ODS are recycled properly, and prohibiting unnecessary releases of ODS

Identifying safe alternatives through the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program

Banning the release of ozone-depleting refrigerants during the service, maintenance, and disposal of air conditioners and other refrigeration equipment

Requiring that manufacturers label products containing or made with the most harmful ODS

Sourceshttp://

ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/ozone/index_en.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone_depletionhttp://

www.ozonedepletion.co.uk/what-ozone-layer-how-does-affect-us.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone_layerHttp://www.theozonehole.com/cfc.htm