Ozone is a natural gas that is present in the environment with a chemical formula of O 3 . At the ozonosphere, the Ozone is present in two layers. 10% of the ozone present in the lower atmosphere constitute the troposphere, and it extends between 6-10 miles from the earth’s lithosphere (Calvert et al., 2015). The major part of the ozone in the stratosphere that has 90% concentration of the zone gas. Ozone is particularly important because of its absorptivity of the harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun that could have a destructive effect on the earth's surface.
The stratospheric ozone layer O 3 is produced as a combination of Oxygen gas and a nascent oxygen atom in the presence of Ultraviolet radiation:
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O 2 +UV O + O
2O + 2O 2 + third molecules 2O 3 + third molecules
Ultimate Reaction: 3O 2 + UV 2O 3
The destruction of the ozone is as explained:
O 3 + Ultraviolet rays O + O 2
O + O 3 2O 2
Ultimate Reaction: 2O 3 + Ultraviolet rays 3O 2
Catalytic reaction further aggravates the destruction of the ozone. The catalysts X as per Dr P. Crutzen is as demonstrated.
X + O 3 XO + O 2
O 3 + Ultraviolet rays 2O2
O + XO X + O 2
Ultimate Reaction: 2O 3 + UV 3O 2
Depletion of the ozone layer increases the amount of ultraviolet rays that reach the earth surface. Human beings grow susceptible to diseases such as skin cancer. To the environment, it interferes with plants physiological makeups. For instance, increased sun radiation results to high evapotranspiration that interferes with the photosynthetic process. Additionally, there is a potential alteration of the agro-climatic zones due to increased temperatures. The Vienna treaty of 1985 and Montreal protocol of 1987 implores on the signatories of the treaty to control on the use of substances such as the Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) as well as expedite efforts to ensure that ozone-depleting substances such as chlorofluorocarbons are faced out (Calvert et al., 2015).
In summary, the earth is habitable due to manageable sun rays that reach the surface. The ozone layer is one of the most critical zones that enable our lives on earth. It traps the dangerous ultraviolet rays from accessing the earth’s surface. Destruction of the ozone layer is having negative effects both on the environment and human. This has prompted international decree for ozone layer protection as was seen in Vienna and Montreal.
References
Calvert, J. G., Orlando, J. J., Stockwell, W. R., & Wallington, T. J. (2015). The mechanisms of reactions influencing atmospheric ozone . Oxford University Press.
