Identifying Causes of Ozone Layer Depletion
There are many causes of ozone layer depletion, all of them manmade compounds that enter the atmosphere. They are chloroflurocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, methyl bromide, halons, methyl chloroform and carbon tetrachloride. Once they have been released into the atmosphere, they remain there for as long as 200 years.
Although there are numerous causes of ozone layer depletion, chloroflurocarbons have been identified as being the most damaging. These gases are used in many different industries in various ways. One example is the refrigerant gas used to run refrigeration and air-conditioning systems and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. Chloroflurocarbons are also used in firefighting equipment, aerosols, the production of styrofoam and anesthetics.
Years of research have determined that chloroflurocarbons top the list of causes of ozone layer depletion because they are not destroyed by rain or broken down in the lower atmosphere. Once they reach the stratosphere, the sun’s ultraviolet rays break down the compound, thus releasing chlorine. This resulting chlorine is what damages the ozone in a repetitive process. In fact, one chlorine atom will continue to destroy the ozone for as long as two years.
The main causes of ozone layer depletion are the gases fluorine, chlorine and bromine, which are found in manmade halocarbons. Chlorine and bromine, in particular, have been identified as the major links to ozone depletion. Chlorine atoms result from chloroflurocarbons molecule, while bromine atoms result from halons. While chloroflurocarbons and halons are safe to use and cause no harm to the environment, they cause substantial damage to the stratosphere.
Hydroxyl, nitric oxide, atomic chlorine and bromine are free radicals that are on the list as causes of ozone layer depletion. Hydroxyl and nitric oxide naturally occur in the stratosphere, but chlorine and bromine occur from human use. As their levels of use increase, the more harm they can cause to the ozone.
The causes of ozone layer depletion trigger damage to the earth from the resulting high levels of ultraviolet rays or radiation exposure. Skin cancer will increase, the immune system in humans and animals will be weakened, plants will be damaged and plankton in oceans will be reduced. The entire balance of the earth’s life system will be impacted.
Protocols are now in place in response to the identification of the main causes of ozone layer depletion. The U.S. Clean Air Act and the Montreal Protocols are designed to lower or eliminate known substances that damage the ozone layer. Despite these international treaties, the problem will not fix itself quickly. It will take at least another century for the substances to be completely removed from the stratosphere and another 100 years for the ozone layer to return to its normal state.
A weakening of the stratospheric ozone was initially identified in 1974. By not addressing the causes of ozone layer depletion now, global warming is evident. As global warming begins, the temperature of the earth gets hotter, causing ice caps and glaciers to melt. Weather events, like droughts and hurricanes would become more severe. As the ozone layer significantly disappears, the earth would come in direct contact with the sun’s heat and its damaging ultraviolet rays.
