OZONE LAYER

&
GREENHOUSE EFFECT

LECTURE # 16
ZAINAB

A molecule containing three atoms of oxygen is

called ozone.
The ozone layer is a layer of gas consisting of O3
molecules that is formed when free Oxygen
molecules bond to O2 molecules.
Ozone is very rare in our atmosphere, averaging
about three molecules of ozone for every 10
million air molecules.
In spite of this small amount, ozone plays a vital
role in the atmosphere.

 Ozone is the only

major atmospheric
constituent that
absorbs significantly
between 210 and 290
nm (UV region)
Without it life would
have remained
underwater

Ozone is mainly found in Earth's atmosphere;

STRATOSPHERE.
Most ozone (about 90%) resides in stratosphere
layer that begins between 10 and 17 kilometers
above the Earth's surface and extends up to about
50 kilometers. The ozone in this region is
commonly known as the ozone layer.

ULTRA-VIOLET RADIATION
UV rays penetrate
the Earths
atmosphere at 3
slightly different
wavelengths called
UV-A
UV-B
UV-C rays

FORMATION OF OZONE
In 1930, Sydney Chapman proposed a series of reactions
for the formation and maintaining ozone layer called the
CHAPMAN CYCLE.
Four chemical reactions
Initiation
O2 + light 2O (120 210 nm)
Propagation (cycling)
O + O2 + M O3 + M* (generates heat)
O3 + light O2 + O (220 320 nm)
Termination
O3 + O 2O2

Chemically ozone forms when UV hits on

stratosphere
Oxygen molecules dissociate into atomic oxygen
Atomic oxygen quickly combines with other
oxygen molecules to form ozone
Split and regenerate repeatedly
Highest concentration in the upper atmosphere
Concentration decreases at lower altitudes
The amount of ozone above the earths surface
is measured in Dobson units (DU)

OZONE DEPLETION
Ozone layer protects life on Earth by preventing about 95
per cent of the Suns harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from
reaching the Earths surface.
In 1985, scientists discovered that the ozone layer was so
severely depleted to the extent that a gapping hole had
appeared in the ozone layer over the Antarctica.
This gradual destruction of the ozone layer is known as
ozone depletion.

SOURCES OF OZONE DEPLETION

Four main families of chemicals responsible for
catalyzing ozone destruction:
1. Nitrogen oxides: NOx (Mostly due to fertilizers)
NO + NO2
A common type of catalytic
destruction cycle
2. Hydrogen oxides: HOx
OH
Y+O3 YO+O2
3. Chlorine: ClOx (due to use of CFCs) YO+O Y+O
2
Cl + ClO
where Y = NO, OH, Cl or Br
4. Bromine: BrOx
Br + BrO

WHAT ARE CFCs?

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Composed of elements chlorine, fluorine, and
carbon
Developed in 1930 by DuPont
CFCs were welcomed by industries:
Low toxicity
Chemical stability
Cheap

Usage:

As refrigerants
As blowing agents
For making flexible foam
As cleaning agents

The most common CFCs are: CFC-11, CFC12, CFC-113

CFC-11: CFCl3
CFC-12: CF2Cl2
CFC-113: CF3CCl3

DESTRUCTION OF OZONE BY CFCs

Photo dissociation releases chlorine atoms:
CFCl3 + light CFCl2 + Cl
Chlorine atoms from CFCs attack the ozone, taking away
ozone and forming chlorine monoxide (ClO).
O3 + Cl O2 + ClO
Chlorine monoxide then combines with another oxygen
atom to form a new oxygen molecule and a chlorine
atom.
ClO + O Cl + O2
The chlorine atom is free to destroy up to 100,000 ozone molecules

CONSEQUENCES OF OZONE DEPLETION

Impact on animals and plants

The increase in UV radiation damages plant
tissues and may destroy crops, causing a decline
in food supply.
Excessive UV radiation kills plankton, which is
the food for many marine animals. As a result,
the survival of the marine animals dependent on
plankton will be threatened.
Fish supply could decrease and some marine
species may face extinction.

Some species of whales feed on

plankton to survive. Without
plentiful plankton in the oceans,
they may be pushed to the brink of
extinction.

CONSEQUENCES OF OZONE DEPLETION

IMPACT ON HUMANS
People may develop more severe sunburns, eye
cataracts (clouding of the eyes lens which
reduces vision and if left untreated, may cause
blindness), and skin cancers.
Excessive exposure to UV rays weakens the
immune system, making people more vulnerable
to illnesses and diseases.

Measures to Reduce the Impact of Ozone

Depletion: International efforts
Montreal Protocol (1987)
Signed by many countries around the world to
reduce the emissions of CFCs
The ozone layer is estimated to recover to 1980s
levels by 2050 and 1950 levels by 2100 if the
world takes consistent preventive measures to ban
the production and use of CFCs.
However, due to the persistent nature and huge
amounts of CFCs in the atmosphere, ozone
recovery will take a long time.

Kyoto Protocol (1997)

Aims to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide,
methane and nitrous oxide to about 5.2% below
1990 levels by 2012

However, some developed countries did not sign

the treaty because they argue it will adversely affect
the profits of their industries and cause many
people to lose their jobs.

Measures to Reduce the Impact of Global

Warming: National efforts
Using alternative sources of energy

Enforcing laws and regulations

Introduce and enforce laws that regulate the
emission of greenhouse gases by vehicles,
industries and power stations
Encourage industries to develop energy efficient
technologies

Reducing use of CFCs

Use of CFCs are banned in accordance to the
Montreal Protocol
Ozone friendly substitutes are developed to replace
CFCs in refrigerators, aerosol cans and airconditioners.
Helping to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases

The greenhouse effect is the process in which

greenhouse gases absorbs radiation (the infra
red rays) and re- radiates it in all directions.
Since part of this re-radiation is back towards
the surface and the lower atmosphere, it results
in an elevation of the average surface
temperature above what it would be in the
absence of the gases.

A greenhouse is a structural building with Glass

covering materials, it heats up because incoming
visible sunshine is absorbed inside the structure. Air
warmed by the heat from warmed interior surfaces
is retained in the building by the roof and wall; the
air that is warmed near the ground is prevented
from rising indefinitely and flowing away. This
process in which the heat is trapped within the
greenhouse can be compared to the way in which
the heat radiations are trapped in the earths
atmosphere.

1. By opting for greener technologies that are eco-friendly.

2. By reducing emissions from automobiles, the
greenhouse gases can be reduced.
3. By preventing deforestation, because plants absorb a
great amount of CO2 from the atmosphere.
4. By using CFC-free refrigerators.
5. By reducing use of aerosols because they produce
CFCs.

Global warming refers to continuing rise in

the average temperature of Earth's climate
system. Most of global warming is being
caused by increasing concentrations of
greenhouse gases produced by human
activities. Global warming can be
prevented by reducing the emission of
greenhouse gases.

Increase in spread of disease.

Increase in droughts.
Melting of polar ice caps.
Floods.
Storms.
Death by smog.
Desertification.
Tsunamis
Loss of biodiversity and animal extinction.

 In the last 150 years, global temperatures have been

rising and the amount of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere has reached phenomenal levels.
The ozone layer over the Polar regions has depleted to
alarmingly low levels since the 1950s. Studies
conducted by NASA have shown that ozone depletion
over the Antarctic and Arctic regions will be at its
worst between 2010 and 2019.
1979

2005

Ice cover in the

Arctic sea has
decreased
dramatically
due to rising
global
temperatures.