What is Ozone ?

7, Aug, 2022 0 Comments

What is Ozone ? | Causes of Ozone Layer Corrosion | Side Effects

The word ‘Ozone’ is derived from the Greek word ‘ojo’ which means smell. Ozone’s chromosome is O3. It is a gas of special smell and of blue color configuration.

Ozone is not to be found of course in any quantity at each height, but its highest concentration (in the atmosphere Concentration ) 10-50Km. This maximum concentrated layer of O₃ Of between 12-35 Km. Is called the Ozon Sphere.

Ozone is an unstable is gas. Its construction and disintegration are continuous. Oxygen molecule to produce ozone ( O₃) the impact of oxygen atoms (O it clashes typically is required to be with o₂. Under the distance of 30km Most of the ultraviolet rays are absorbed as they reach the height of O₃. Therefore, between 30 and 60 km, the collision between ‘O’ and ‘O2 and then combined is more in the form of O₃. This collision is possible by solar light, hence it is called ‘photochemical reaction.

In Earth’s space between, 30Km to 60 Km. Oxygen Molecule (O) eclides with Oxygen (O2) to form O₃ (O zone) under sunlight known as photo-chemical reaction. This by of Ozone (O₃) absorbs maximum amount of ultra Violet radiations and others. It saves all living being to live an active and healthy life on the earth. But loss in O₃ layer is a big trouble for all of us. It is a matter of servival and death.

Upcoming ultraviolet rays from the sun has three wave lengths:-

(i) Ultraviolet A (wavelength 320-400 nanometers)

(ii) Ultraviolet B (wavelength 280-320 nanometers)

(iii) Ultraviolet C (wavelength 220-280 nanometers)

An excessive amount of ultraviolet ‘B’ and ‘C’ is very harmful to the fauna and flora on earth. Most of these rays are absorbed by the ozone layer and only about 2-3% reaches the earth. The remaining 2-3% is essential to keep metabolic activity normal in living organisms. Ultraviolet rays trickle Argestral (Ergestrol) Synthesis of vitamins D, which is essential for bone health.

The unit of measurement of the thickness of the ozone layer is ‘Dabson’. The average thickness of the ozone layer is 230 dabson. The thickness of the ozone layer changes with the seasons and with latitudes and longitudes of the Earth’s changing motion. Tests have shown that the thickness of the ozone layer is minimum around spring and maximum just after the rainy season. The ozone layer at the Earth’s equator is the thinnest and thickest at the area of the poles. The reduction of the average thickness of the ozone layer and the destruction of the ozone layer in some places is called ozone layer erosion.

Causes of Ozone Layer Corrosion

Articles’ ozone that harms the ozone layer is called, depleting substances, while those options with much less damage to ozone layer is called “ozone-friendly substances’. The major ozone Cykari or depleting substance are (1) chlorofluorocarbons (CFS), (2) carbon tetrachloride (CTC), (3) methyl chloroform, (4) Tetra chloro Ethylene (TCA), (5) Methyl Bromide, (6) Halons, (7) Halon 1220 (8) Nictro. Propyl Bromide, (9) Hexa Chloro Butadiene.

Nature is also to blame for the ozone layer’s erosion. The US space agency has clear photo from NASA and studies carried out in July 2001 in North Hampshire by Nova that the storm provoked by the sun’s barrage of electrically charged particles in the Earth’s atmosphere, thereby losing the upper surface of the ozone layer is different as It seemed. These storms are caused by the transfer of energy stored in the Sun’s magnetic fields from one place to another, which also affects other members of the solar system. According to Charles Jackman, a researcher at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center’s atmospheric research laboratory. solar

flames have a profound effect on the ozone layer and are visible even after a long period. Such bombardment of proton particles causes the gas molecules in the upper surface of the ozone layer to disintegrate into nitrogen and water vapor. Once this process begins, the numerous molecules of ozone gas begin to fructify and the layer becomes increasingly thin.

Function of Ozone layer

The ozone layer in the stratosphere naturally acts as a protective shield for the entire planet. It blocks the harmful ultraviolet rays of the Sun in the upper atmosphere and does not allow them to reach the surface of the Earth. Ultraviolet radiation is very harmful to the whole world.

The ozone layer plays an extremely important role in the atmosphere even when it is extremely thin. It would not be an exaggeration to say that life has been possible due to this layer on the earth. The ozone layer absorbs the harmful ultraviolet rays of solar radiation in the upper atmosphere itself and protects us from its harmful effects.

The Sun’s energy is radiated as rays with different wavelengths. Part of the spectrum is visible light. These waves have wavelength ranging from 400 nanometers to 700 a nanometers and range from ultraviolet to red. There is electromagnetic radiation on both sides of this spectrum. After red (more than 700 nanometers) are infrared rays, which provide heat. After violet (less than 400 nanometers) there are ultraviolet which are harmful.

Therefore, there are three types of ultraviolet radiation. First, ultraviolet A (315-400 nanometers) rays are not harmful and also do not affect ozone depletion. Second, ultraviolet B (280-315 nanometers) which are the most harmful to humans, animals, and vegetation. Third, ultra violets (180-280 nanometers) are the most deadly and do not reach the surface of the earth.

Ultraviolet B is naturally a part of the sun’s rays, but ultraviolet B is more harmful to the earth than necessary. The stratospheric ozone blocks maximum ultraviolet rays in the upper atmosphere and only part of it allows it to reach the earth. But as the density of the ozone layer decreases, its ability to resist rays has also been reduced, due to which in some parts of the world, more ultraviolet rays are succeeding in reaching the ground.

The ozone layer not only protects the earth from its effects by absorbing ultraviolet rays but also controls the temperature of the upper atmosphere, thereby keeping the temperature of the lower atmosphere balanced.

Side Effects of Ozone Layer Corrosion

Owing to the ozone layer erosion, the ultraviolet rays of the sun reach the earth and cause various losses to the organisms such as-

1. Various dermatitis

2. Skin cancer

3. Cataract

4. Skin cells break down.

5. Inflammation of microscopic blood vessels.

6. Mutations due to changes in gene structure.

7. Swelling and wounds in the eyes.

8. Immune biological Koshaon ability

9. Fertility in animals and Loss in their immunity (Resistance Power Loss).

10. U.V. rays of 20 n m. The reason for the destruction of micro-marine animals by reaching the depth of water.

11. Inhibiting the growth of plants.

12. Small size of leaves.

13. Crop reduction (food crisis).

14. On the Earth’s surface U.V.- Sadran chemical fog. UV rays give birth to chemical fog.

15. It reduces the production of seeds grains, crops and fruits.

16. It Increase in global temperature.

17. Food chain breakdown in the sea.

18. Soil becomes barren and unfertile.

Measures to Prevent Ozone Layer Corrosion

To prevent the erosion of the ozone layer and national efforts are being made following internationally.

1. The Vienna meeting – 1985 AD. During a meeting in the Austrian capital Vienna with the idea of reducing the production of ozone-depleting substances was discussed.

2. Montreal Agreement – On September 16, 1987, signed an international convention in Montreal, Canada. This was the first international agreement to protect the ozone layer. 33 out of a total of 47 countries signed it. The signing countries had agreed to bring CFC production to the level of 1986 AD and halve it by 1988 AD.

(i) London Amendment – This amendment was done in the year 1990. It is about all ozone-eating substances like – carbon tetrafluoride, Trifluoromethane, and an agreement to eliminate the use of methyl chloroform.

(ii) Koppen Hagen Amendment (1994) – This amendment for the first time set different periods for developed and developing countries. Accordingly, developing countries where the per capita consumption of ozone-depleting substances is 0.3 kg. Less than a year, they were given ten years more time to use these chemicals than in developed countries.

3. India signed the Montreal Protocol in 1992 intending to express its participation in the field of ozone protection. The Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests enacted the Ozone Hazardous Substances (Regulation) Rule in 1998 to reduce the use of CFC and other ozone-depleting chemical compounds.

Other measures to protect the ozone layer are as follows –

Reducing consumption of CFC.
Trying to find out the ad hoc position of the ozone hole by bringing the ‘Antarctic ozone layer’ into practice.
Finding possible solutions by organizing international conferences.
To encourage scientists to conduct experiments and research in this field.
To use publicity tools to create a worldwide awakening.