Ozone Layer
Concept of Ozone Layer:
Is a layer in Earth’s atmosphere which contains a lot of concentration of ozone (O3).
This layer absorbs 97-99% of the sun’s ultraviolet light, which is damaging the life on
earth.
Characteristics:
•
The ozone layer is located in the stratosphere
•
Contains relatively high concentrations of ozone (O3)
•
Without the ozone layer, ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun would not be
stopped
•
The layer sits at an altitude of about 10-50 kilometers
Formation:
The ozone layer is created in the stratosphere, when highly energetic solar radiation
strikes molecules of oxygen (O2) and causes the two oxygen atoms to split apart.
If a free atom joins into another O2 is forming the ozone.
This process is known as Photolysis.
Destruction:
When CFCs and HCFCs reach the stratosphere, the ultraviolet radiation from the sun
causes them to break apart and release chlorine atoms which react with ozone,
starting chemical cycles of ozone destruction that deplete the ozone layer.
One chlorine atom can break apart more than 100,000 ozone molecules.
Other Chemicals that affect the Ozone Layer:
Methyl Bromide: used as pesticide
Halons: used in fire extinguishers
Methyl Chloroform: used as a solvent in industrial processes for essential applications
Importance of the Ozone Layer:
The Ozone Layer acts as a shield for us from very harmful UV rays. If we damage the
Ozone Layer we would put ourselves in a big risk. Without the Ozone Layer we
wouldn't be able to survive.
Exposure to UV rays causes skin cancer, damages crops, harms ocean life and polar
shifting. Without the Ozone Layer the risk of these things would greatly increase.
How our actions are destroying the layer:
•
Products in spray destroy the Ozone Layer, because this uses
chlorofluorocarbons that are chemicals that lasts 100 years in ozone layer and
destroys it.
•
Also there is CFC; it is highly used as a coolant in refrigerators and air
conditioners. This reacts with an ozone molecule, taking an oxygen atom with it
and leaving a normal oxygen molecule.
Ozone Hole:
The ozone hole is a region of exceptionally depleted ozone in the stratosphere over
the Antarctic that happens at the beginning of Southern Hemisphere spring.
Greenhouse Effect:
The greenhouse effect is a process by which radioactive energy leaving a planetary
surface is absorbed by some atmospheric gases, called greenhouse gases. They
transfer this energy to other components of the atmosphere.
Greenhouse Effect and Ozone Layer:
The Ozone Layer is made to protect us from the UV Rays, but this layer is destroying
and the UV Rays are entering but they are trapped on the layer, and this means a big
risk for our lives.
Bibliographies:
 Wikipedia. “Greenhouse Effect”
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_effect] Thursday 21 of October, 2010.
 Wikipedia. “Ozone Layer” [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone_layer] Thursday
21 of October, 2010.
 Newman, P. “Ozone Facts. What is the Ozone Hole?
[http://ozonewatch.gsfc.nasa.gov/facts/hole.html] Thursday 21 of October,
2010.
 Tripod. “What is the Importance of the Ozone Layer?”
[http://saveozonenow.tripod.com/id3.html] Saturday 23 of October, 2010.
 Ghaz, Mr. “The Greenhouse Effect and the Thinning of the Ozone Layer”
[http://scienceray.com/biology/ecology/the-greenhouse-effect-and-thethinning-of-the-ozone-layer/] Saturday 23 of October, 2010.
 Environmental Protection Agency. “Brief Questions and Answers on Ozone
Depletion” [http://www.epa.gov/ozone/science/q_a.html] Thursday 21 of
October, 2010.
Group Members:
Erick Castillo
Alejandro Martinez
Giuliana Villegas
7C