Ozone+Depletion

Ozone Depletion About 90% of Earth’s ozone is located in the ozone layer, which is made of concentration of ozone molecules in the stratosphere. The troposphere is the layer of the Earth’s atmosphere that surrounds us. The next layer, which goes about 10-50 kilometers above the surface of the Earth, is the stratosphere. The stratospheric ozone is gas that occurs naturally, which filters UV rays that come from the sun. With depletion of the ozone, it will allow more UV rays and radiation to reach the surface of the Earth. Overexposure to UV rays can lead to skin cancer, cataracts, and weakened immune systems. It can also affect our crops and it can interrupt the marine food chain. Scientists only first started getting concerned about ozone deletion in the 1970’s. A few years later, scientists discovered that the ozone over Antarctica was thinning. Although the ozone was not completely gone, scientists thought of the idea of there possibly being a hole in the ozone. Scientists looked at the possible outcomes of this, which would lead to cancer, skin, and eye problems, and it would also affect plants, animals, and some plastic materials. Because of these risks, leaders from many countries decided to come together to try and come up with a solution. 191 nations since 1987 have ratified a landmark environmental treaty. This treaty is called the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. The main goal of this agreement is to reduce and hopefully eliminate the production and use of man-made ozone depleting substances (ODS). The countries which agreed with this hope to stop ozone damage and hopefully help to restore it. As ozone levels decrease, the levels of UVB reaching the surface of our planet will increase. During the annual ozone hole, amounts of UVB in Antarctica can be doubled, and recently, there has been a relationship with Canada’s levels of UVB also. These problems can lead to many problems which can effect human health, plant life, marine ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles, and other materials on our planet. We must work together to keep our ozone safe and protect our future. Type in the content of your page here.