Historical Background, as well as Scientific Foundations of the Ozone Hole - Essay Example

The Ozone Hole Affiliation Introduction Technically, ozone hole is not just a hole within which the ozone is not present, however, it actually is an area of extremely depleted ozone within the atmosphere above the Antarctic, which happens during the southern hemisphere spring beginning at around august to October. In other words, denotes the thinning, however, not complete absenteeism of earth’s atmosphere ozone layer, which takes place over the continent of Antarctica. The ozone layer happens to be a layer within the atmosphere of the earth, which contains comparatively high ozone (03) concentrations. This layer does absorb 97 percent to 99 percent of the high-frequency ultraviolet light of the sun which can be possibly destructive to the life on earth. More that 90 percent of the ozone within the earth’s atmosphere is existing here “comparatively high” meaning several parts/million- considerably higher than concentrations within the lower atmosphere, however, still lesser compared to the key atmospheric components. Its location is approximately 15 to 35 km above the surface of the earth in the hemispheres lower portion (Charles, 2014). This thickness varies geographically as well as seasonally. As mentioned earlier, prevents disastrous destruction of the life on earth through absorption of the harmful incoming sun’s ultraviolet (UV) potion hence minimizing this light’s amount that reaches the surface of the earth (Paul, 2009). Such natural sunlight buffering is quite advantageous since the ultraviolet light of high energy is capable of penetrating uppermost skin layers.as a result, cells might end up damaged which is explained through sunburn as well as more threateningly, genetic material which resides within every cell (DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid) destruction. Damage of some DNA within skin cells by such ultraviolet light is associated with certain cancers development. Observation of the ozone hall has for a long time been done with great seriousness. Images of satellite offer observers the ozone’s every day images over Antarctic region (Enviromental Protection Agency, 2010). The winter population of humans of the Antarctic comprise of researchers in several hundreds. These researchers get protection from the UV light which has increased from warm winter clothing, hence the ozone layer health effect concerns are minimal. The ozone hole’s existence as well as its increased size through 1990s up till 2006, the time when this hole was ever largest recorded, has come to be a great concern for researchers who study human activity influence over the atmosphere through the release of compounds generated of human activity to the atmosphere, as ozone’s destruction basis (Linda, 2013). Additionally, a comparable thinning somewhere else on the world could possess more thoughtful consequences on climate as well as human health. In early 2008the ozone hole was smaller compared to its size in year 2006 as it was measured the ozone loss in accordance with data from the United States National Oceanic as well as Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). If at all this happens to be the beginning for a longer trend, which reflects reduction of ozone destroying compounds release that was agreed upon by one hundred and ninety one nations which got to sign the Montreal Protocol on those substances which deplete ozone layer - may not be clear yet. Historical Background as well as Scientific Foundations Since 1957 to 1958 selected to be International Geophysical Year, researchers started to record annually measurements of the atmosphere including the ozone concentration. Such measurements were at first taken from instruments that were placed on weather balloons. However, with the era of satellite, measurements that are more accurate could be taken from instruments though within an orbit around the globe. Even though the 1960s as well as until late 1970s levels of ozone within the south pole area were reliably higher during the late spring compared to winter time . However, during the 1978 and the 1979, the levels of ozone were less during end of winter than anytime before. In the subsequent few years, late winter level of ozone went on declining. Those findings were reported by British researchers in 984. The findings were confirmed by United States satellite Nimbus-7 in the following year which as well produced a thinned Antarctic ozone layer image. Ozone hole was the term coined for describing the phenomenon (Kondratyev & Costas, 2000.). Ozone happens to be a gas which is composed of 3 gas atoms with its chemical formula being 03. The oxygen form humans breath does consist of two atoms (02). Despite the fact that the 02 oxygen form makes up almost 21 percent of the atmospheric volume, the ozone occupies only 0.000004 percent of the volume of the atmosphere, which, in a case where it was present by way of a discrete layer would only be around an eighth of an inch in thickness (Makhijani & Kevin, 1995). The zone is not dispersed across the atmosphere. However it is limited to the atmosphere’s uppermost layer known as the stratosphere that starts from 10-19 km above the level of the sea as well as extents to almost 48 km high. This stratosphere is no the region where clouds forms normally as well as where there exists a lot of movement of air since such happen at some lower layer known as the troposphere. Such is of great advantage at the ozone which is intense within the lower stratosphere potion relatively remains undisturbed. The thickness of the stratosphere is not even however, it appears thickest at the poles and thinnest above equator (Paul N. , 2015). Formation of ozone takes place when the sunlight UV portion splits an oxygen (02) molecule into 2 oxygen (0) atoms. Now, one of these then forms some chemical union with another molecule (02) to come up with an (03). Despite the fact that for formation of ozone UV light is a requirement, upon the formation of the molecule, then it possible for it to absorb the UV light incoming (Andrea, 2014). It is this that reduces UV radiation amount which passes across the atmosphere to the earth. There are good future prospects for ozone layers recovery. Nonessential consumption for main ozone exhausting substances stopped in the year 1996 for developed nations and in 2010 for developing nations. The prediction of scientists is that the global community is in the process of complying with the Montreal Protocol and that the ozone layer may recover to the levels of pre- 1980 between 2050- 2065 (Australian Department of Environment, 2015). References Andrea, T. (2014). Massive Ozone Hole Found In Earths Detergent Layer Over The Pacific, Scientist Warns. Retrieved from huffingtonpost.com: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/14/ozone-hole_n_5148878.html?ir=India Australian Department of Environment. (2015). The ozone layer. Retrieved from environment.gov.au: http://www.environment.gov.au/protection/ozone/ozone-science/ozone-layer Charles, W. (2014). The Ozone Hole. NASA Ozone Watch, 6. Enviromental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Ozone Science: The Facts Behind the Phaseout. Retrieved from epa.gov: http://www.epa.gov/ozone/science/sc_fact.html Kondratyev, K. Y., & Costas, V. (2000.). Implications for Climate Change, Human Health and Ecosystems. Chichester, U.K: Praxis Publishing Ltd. Linda, M. (2013). Good news for fans of planet Earth: hole in the ozone layer may be healing. Is the Ozone Hole Shrinking? , 2. Makhijani, A., & Kevin, R. G. (1995). Mending the Ozone Hole: Science, Technology, and Policy. Cambridge: The MIT Press . Paul, A. N. (2009). Ozone Facts: What is the Ozone Hole? Ozone Hole Watch, 4. Paul, N. (2015). Ozone Hole Watch. Retrieved from ozonewatch.gsfc: http://ozonewatch.gsfc.nasa.gov/ Read More