Ozone layer depletion occurs in the stratosphere. It is that region of atmosphere from about 12-50 km above the earth’s surface.
Ozone layer depletion refers to the thinning of the Ozone layer.
Ozone is produced in the upper stratosphere by short-wave sunlight. Substances containing bromine and chlorine are correlated with the decrease in stratospheric ozone. When these molecules come in contact with ozone, they destroy the ozone molecules.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) are primarily responsible for the depletion of the Ozone layer. Substances like Carbon tetrachloride, methyl chloroform, halons, and methyl bromide are also Ozone depleting substances.
The ozone layer prevents the entry of harmful wavelengths of Ultraviolet rays from reaching the Earth’s surface.
This can result in harmful health hazards like skin cancer, sunburn, cataracts, etc.
Montreal Protocol of 1987 aims to protect the ozone layer by phasing out ozone-depleting substances.
Charles Fabry and Henri Buisson discovered the Ozone layer in 1913.
- The layers of the atmosphere, from lowest to highest are;
- Troposphere
- Stratosphere
- Mesosphere
- Thermosphere
- Exosphere
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