The major cause of ozone depletion is. Ozone Layer Depletion: Causes and Effects 2022-10-24

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the release of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other ozone-depleting substances (ODS) into the atmosphere.

The ozone layer is a vital component of the Earth's atmosphere, located about 9 to 18 miles (15 to 30 kilometers) above the Earth's surface. It plays a crucial role in protecting life on Earth by absorbing harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. However, the ozone layer has been damaged over the years by the release of certain gases into the atmosphere, which have depleted the ozone layer and allowed more UV radiation to reach the Earth's surface.

One of the major causes of ozone depletion is the release of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other ozone-depleting substances (ODS) into the atmosphere. CFCs are a group of synthetic chemicals that have been widely used in a variety of products, including refrigerators, air conditioners, and foam products. They are also found in some industrial processes and solvents.

CFCs and other ODS are released into the atmosphere through a variety of sources, including the use of products containing CFCs, the leakage of CFCs from refrigeration and air conditioning systems, and the release of CFCs during the production of certain products. Once released into the atmosphere, CFCs and other ODS are transported to the stratosphere, where they are broken down by UV radiation and release chlorine and bromine atoms. These atoms then react with ozone molecules, breaking them down and reducing the amount of ozone in the atmosphere.

The release of CFCs and other ODS into the atmosphere has had significant impacts on the ozone layer, leading to a thinning of the ozone layer and an increase in the amount of UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface. This has led to a number of negative consequences, including an increase in skin cancer rates, damage to crops and other plants, and harm to marine life.

In response to the negative impacts of CFCs and other ODS on the ozone layer, governments around the world have taken steps to phase out the use of these substances. The Montreal Protocol, an international treaty signed in 1987, has been instrumental in this effort, as it has set limits on the production and use of CFCs and other ODS and has led to the phasing out of these substances in many countries. As a result of these efforts, the ozone layer is slowly starting to recover, and the amount of UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface is expected to decrease over time.

In conclusion, the major cause of ozone depletion is the release of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other ozone-depleting substances (ODS) into the atmosphere. These substances have had significant negative impacts on the ozone layer and have led to an increase in UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface. However, thanks to efforts to phase out the use of CFCs and other ODS, the ozone layer is slowly starting to recover and the amount of UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface is expected to decrease over time.

What is the main reason of ozone layer depletion?

the major cause of ozone depletion is

The all-India ranking helped me to analyse my performance at a pan-India level even before the actual UPSC exam. For more than five decades EPW has remained a unique forum that week after week has brought together academics, researchers, policy makers, independent thinkers, members of non-governmental organisations and political activists for debates straddling economics, politics, sociology, culture, the environment and numerous other disciplines. We should substitut that with eco-friendly products. Despite mechanisms to reduce or repair these effects and an ability to adapt to increased levels of UVB, plant growth can be directly affected by UVB radiation. Also Read:Â Ozone layer helps in shielding the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun.

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Ozone depletion

the major cause of ozone depletion is

The ozone layer acts as a shield for life on Earth. There is a good article. It is made of layers that surround the Earth like rings. Ozone concentrations are normally higher in the spring and lowest in the fall. On Plants UVB radiation affects the physiological and developmental processes of plants.

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Ozone layer depletion: Cause, effects, and solutions

the major cause of ozone depletion is

The chlorine then reacts again with the oxygen molecules to destroy the ozone and the process repeats 100,000 times per molecule. But this has been found to cause not more than 1-2% depletion of the ozone layer and the effects are also thought to be only temporary. They take from 20 to 120 years to break down. Because of their relative stability, CFCs rise into the stratosphere where they are eventually broken down by ultraviolet UV rays from the Sun. It is quite easy to revise mock exams on the ClearIAS mobile app. Some compounds release chlorine and bromine on exposure to high ultraviolet light, which then contributes to ozone layer depletion. Beginning in the late 1970s, a large and rapid decrease in total ozone, often by more than 60 percent relative to the global average, has been observed in the springtime September to November over.

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[Solved] The major cause for the depletion of Ozone is

the major cause of ozone depletion is

It really helped me in my prelims preparation. Ozone depletion is the term commonly used to describe the thinning of the ozone layer in the stratosphere. The severity of Antarctic ozone depletion has not continued to increase since the late 1990s and, since 2000, ozone levels have been higher than in some preceding years. What do toppers' say about ClearIAS? The net result is that two molecules of ozone are replaced by three of molecular oxygen leaving. Severe depletion over the Antarctic has been occurring since 1979 and a general downturn in global ozone levels has been observed since the early 1980's. Phytoplankton productivity is limited to the euphotic zone, the upper layer of the water column in which there is sufficient sunlight to support net productivity. However, this might require the complete elimination of ozone-destroying chemicals.

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Ozone Depletion: Cause and Effects on JSTOR

the major cause of ozone depletion is

The furthest layer, the mesosphere, is found roughly 50 km to 80 km above sea level. Effects on Marine Life Planktons are greatly affected by the exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays. It is only when the chlorine atom reacts with some other molecule, it does not react with ozone. It may lead to minimal plant growth, smaller leaf size, flowering and photosynthesis in plants, lower quality crops for humans. What is Ozone Layer Depletion? One should avoid using pesticides and shift to natural methods to get rid of pests instead of using chemicals. This might result in serious health issues among humans, such as skin diseases, Effects on Animals Direct exposure to ultraviolet radiations leads to skin and eye cancer in animals. Way forward Everyone should also take steps to prevent the depletion of the ozone layer.

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Ozone depletion: causes

the major cause of ozone depletion is

And decline in plant productivity would in turn affect soil erosion and the carbon cycle. This has focussed their concern on various environmental issues and steps to control them. In spite of these uncertainties and substantial time lag, the natural balance between ozone creation and destruction can be restored if concentrations of ozone-destroying chemicals are reduced. Molina and Rowland were given a Nobel Prize in Chemistry, along with a third ozone researcher, Paul Crutzen from the Netherlands. It is destroyed more quickly than it is created. Whereas, the ozone-depleting substances that contain bromine are halons, methyl bromide, and hydro bromofluorocarbons. Montreal Protocol was proposed in 1987 to stop the use, production and import of ozone-depleting substances and minimise their concentration in the atmosphere to protect the ozone layer of the earth.


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Causes Of Ozone Depletion

the major cause of ozone depletion is

However, 99% of its total mass lies in two regions within the first 50 kilometres above the Earth's surface. These are higher in the aquatic food chain. These should be substituted with natural products to protect the environment. The volcanic eruptions are also responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer. Depletion of the ozone layer exposes humans to harmful ultraviolet rays, this causes skin diseases, cataract, cancer, impaired immune system etc.

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Ozone Layer Depletion: Meaning, Substances, Causes and Solutions

the major cause of ozone depletion is

The other is a much larger, although seasonal loss of ozone over the polar regions. These two regions are called the troposphere and the stratosphere. The main causes responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer are listed below: Chlorofluorocarbons Chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs are the main cause of ozone layer depletion. It has the potential to absorb around 97-99% of the harmful ultraviolet radiations coming from the sun that can damage life on earth. Ozone Depleting Substances ODS have a lifetime of about 100 years. The main reasons for the ozone hole are chlorofluorocarbons, carbon tetrachloride, methyl bromide and hydrochlorofluorocarbons.

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