When I first started blogging, I really just wanted to inform others about the basic environmental issues that plague our society but really focus in on how we can take care of our planet. However, I’ve realized that learning about the science behind the environmental issues can be just as rewarding. So, today we will be talking about ozone depletion.
The ozone layer, also known as the ozonosphere, is located within the stratosphere and lies roughly 20 miles above the Earth’s surface. Ozone is a molecule consisting of three Oxygen molecules bound together. This area of the atmosphere is extremely important in absorbing a large portion of the radiation that is emitted from the sun, specifically UV light. This is extremely important to humans, as intense UV light can cause many types of skin cancers. Although Ozone levels usually remain pretty constant over time, some human actions can cause ozone depletion or the thinning of the ozone layer.
When fossil fuels are burning or chlorine gas is used to clean swimming pools, chlorine and bromine are released into the atmosphere. Although minuscule amounts of these atoms actually reach the stratosphere, they bind to ozone, and effectively destroy the ozone molecules. Only a small concentration of chlorine and bromine are needed to destroy hundreds of thousands of ozone molecules (one chlorine molecule can destroy over 100,000 ozone molecules!!!!).
As previously stated, without human involvement, ozone layers are usually constant over time. However, when more ozone molecules are destroyed than there are created, the ozone layer begins to thin. In the 1980s, due to the high release of aerosol propellants (which have since been banned) a “hole” was created over Antartica. Ozone depletion affected the atmosphere all over the globe, but concentration of ozone got so bad over Antartica, that there was extremely little ozone protecting the continent.
Lots of work has been done since the infamous “hole” was created, and thankfully ozone layers have begun to reach normal levels thanks to prevention methods; as mentioned earlier, aerosol propellants that were releasing a lot of chlorine and bromine were banned. As of today, ozone depletion is much less of a problem than it was just 40 years ago. We must continue to stay on top of it so that we can avoid the issue before it occurs!! Prevention over cure!
I told my deliberation group friends that I love Friday classes because I love reading the blog posts. They laughed at me but whatever. I like how you switched up your blog today and talked about some of the more science-y stuff behind the environment and sustainability. I think science is cool so there was definitely nothing I would rather do than to read about how we’re destroying our atmosphere on my Friday afternoon! The picture you included of the hole in our ozone layer was really eye opening as to how badly it got at one point in time wow.