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How is the ozone destruction?
Ozone Depletion. When chlorine and bromine atoms come into contact with ozone in the stratosphere, they destroy ozone molecules. One chlorine atom can destroy over 100,000 ozone molecules before it is removed from the stratosphere. When they break down, they release chlorine or bromine atoms, which then deplete ozone.
What do you mean by ozone depletion?
Ozone layer depletion is the thinning of the ozone layer present in the upper atmosphere. This happens when the chlorine and bromine atoms in the atmosphere come in contact with ozone and destroy the ozone molecules. One chlorine can destroy 100,000 molecules of ozone. It is destroyed more quickly than it is created.
Why is ozone destruction important?
Ozone protects the Earth from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the Sun. Without the Ozone layer in the atmosphere, life on Earth would be very difficult. With a weakening of the Ozone Layer shield, humans would be more susceptible to skin cancer, cataracts and impaired immune systems.
How is ozone formed and destroyed naturally?
Stratospheric ozone is formed naturally by chemical reactions involving solar ultraviolet radiation (sunlight) and oxygen molecules, which make up 21% of the atmosphere. The production of stratospheric ozone is balanced by its destruction in chemical reactions.
What is ozone for life?
This stratospheric layer shields Earth from most of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation. Sunlight makes life possible, but the ozone layer makes life as we know it possible. In 1985, the world’s governments adopted the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer.
What does the term’ozone depletion’mean?
The term “ozone depletion” means more than just the natural destruction of ozone, it means that ozone loss is exceeding ozone creation. Think again of the “leaky bucket.”
Where does most of the destruction of ozone occur?
UV radiation plays a crucial role in the formation and destruction of ozone. UV amounts are greatest in the tropical regions, thus it is not suprising that most of the destruction and production of ozone occurs in the tropical stratosphere. In 1970 Dr. P. Crutzen proposed the following catalytic reaction that results in the destruction of O3.
Why is ozone so important to the environment?
Ozone is extremely valuable since it absorbs a range of ultraviolet energy. When an ozone molecule absorbs even low-energy ultraviolet radiation, it splits into an ordinary oxygen molecule and a free oxygen atom. Usually this free oxygen atom quickly re-joins with an oxygen molecule to form another ozone molecule.
What happens when an ozone molecule is exposed to ultraviolet radiation?
When an ozone molecule absorbs even low-energy ultraviolet radiation, it splits into an ordinary oxygen molecule and a free oxygen atom. Usually this free oxygen atom quickly re-joins with an oxygen molecule to form another ozone molecule. Because of this “ozone-oxygen cycle,” harmful ultraviolet radiation is continuously converted into heat.