TITLE: DEPLETION OF OZONE LAYER

SELECTION OF TOPIC
The ozone layer has become a major topic of discussion among environmentalists,
scientists and even the general public. Many people from our society are not aware
of this issue and its harmful effects. I have selected this topic to make people aware
about current conditions of our environment and necessary actions we need to take
to stop further depletion of ozone layer. We need to take primary measures to
avoid melting of ice, skin cancer, disturbed life cycles of plants, destruction of
marine life, etc.

HYPOTHESIS

OBJECTIVES
To develop an understanding for the history of ozone layer.
To explain the damaging effects of ozone layer.
To create awareness about the depletion of ozone layer.
To explain why the threat to the ozone layer is still continuing today.
To understand how ozone hole is produced.
To explain ozone layer shields the Earth from much of the sun’s harmful radiation.
To explain the scope and intension of MONTREAL PROTOCOL.
To make people aware of harmful effects of depletion of ozone layer.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE
1.PROTECTING THE OZONE- EDWARD.A.PARSON 2003
2.HOLE: PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE- TASNEEM ABBASI 10MARCH,2017
3.THE OZONE DILEMMA-W.HENRY LAMWRIGHT 2005
4.MENDING THE OZONE –ARJUN MAKHIJANI 1995
5.OZONE DIPLOMACY-RICHARD.E.BENEDICK 1998
6. THE HOLE IN THE SKY-JOHN GIBBRIN 1988
7.THE OZONE HOLE-DARLENE.R.STILLE 1991
8. THE CHANGING ATMOSPHERE-JOHN.W.FIROR

RELEVANCE
CAUSES
 The main cause of ozone depletion and the ozone hole is manufactured chemicals,
especially manufactured halocarbon refrigerants, solvents, propellants and foam-
blowing agents (chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), HCFCs, halons), referred to as ozone-
depleting substances (ODS). These compounds are transported into the
stratosphere by turbulent mixing after being emitted from the surface, mixing much
faster than the molecules can settle. Once in the stratosphere, they release halogen
atoms through photodissociation, which catalyze the breakdown of ozone (O3) into
oxygen (O2). Both types of ozone depletion were observed to increase as emissions
of halocarbons increased.
Global warming also leads to ozone layer depletion. Due to global warming and
greenhouse effect most of the heat is trapped in troposphere which is the layer
below the stratosphere. As we all know ozone is present in stratosphere so heat
don’t reaches troposphere and it remain cold as recovery of ozone layer requires
maximum sunlight and heat so it leads to depletion of ozone layer
Nitrogenous Compounds emitted by human activities in small amount like NO, N2O
and NO2 are considered to be greatly responsible for the depletion of ozone layer.
EVIDENCE
EVIDENCE FOR OZONE DEPLETION
Mario Molina of the University of California began to
Wonder where all these CFCs ended up. Rowland and Molina
Theorized that ultraviolet (UV) rays from the Sun would break
Up CFCs in the stratosphere, and that the free chlorine atoms
Would then enter into a chain reaction, destroying ozone.
Many people, however, remained unconvinced of the danger
until the mid-1980s, when a severe springtime depletion of
ozone was first monitored by the British Antarctic Survey
International Journal of Environmental Science and Development, above Antarctica.
The depletion above the South Pole was so
severe that the British geophysicist, Joe Farman, who first
Measured it, assumed his spectrophotometer must be broken
and sent the device back to England to be repaired. Once the
Depletion was verified, it came to be known throughout the
world through a series of NASA satellite photos as the
Antarctic Ozone Hole. Laboratory studies backed by satellite
and ground-based measurements, show that free chlorine
reacts very rapidly with ozone. They also show that the
chlorine oxide formed in that reaction undergoes further
processes that regenerate the original chlorine, allowing the
sequence to be repeated up to 100,000 times. This process is
known as a "chain reaction". Similar reactions also take place
between bromine and ozone. Observations of the Antarctic
ozone hole have given a convincing and unmistakable
demonstration of these processes. Scientists have repeatedly
observed a large number of chemical species over Antarctica
since 1986. Among the chemicals measured were ozone and
chlorine monoxide, which is the reactive chemical identified
in the laboratory as one of the participants in the
ozone-destroying chain reactions.

EFFECTS
Since the ozone layer absorbs UVB ultraviolet light from the sun, ozone layer
depletion increases surface UVB levels (all else equal), which could lead to damage,
including increase in skin cancer. This was the reason for the Montreal Protocol.
Although decreases in stratospheric ozone are well-tied to CFCs and to increases in
surface UVB, there is no direct observational evidence linking ozone depletion to
higher incidence of skin cancer and eye damage in human beings. This is partly
because UVA, which has also been implicated in some forms of skin cancer, is not
absorbed by ozone, and because it is nearly impossible to control statistics for
lifestyle changes over time.
Ozone, while a minority constituent in Earth's atmosphere, is responsible for most
of the absorption of UVB radiation. The amount of UVB radiation that penetrates
through the ozone layer decreases exponentially with the slant-path thickness and
density of the layer. When stratospheric ozone levels decrease, higher levels of UVB
reach the Earth’s surface. UV-driven phenolic formation in tree rings has dated the
start of ozone depletion in northern latitudes to the late 1700s.
Ozone depletion would magnify all of the effects of UV on human health, both
positive (including production of vitamin D) and negative (including sunburn, skin
cancer, and cataracts). In addition, increased surface UV leads to increased
tropospheric ozone, which is a health risk to humans.

PROPOSED METHODLOGY
This research is based on a interview method which aims to study the given
condition of the population through a questionnaire.
Description of Method
This research is based on the survey questionnaire which aims to study a given
populations present existing condition that is based on a given set of samples. The
study aims only to examine peoples knowledge about ozone layer and its depletion.
the survey method that is utilized is done through a questionnaire method-the use
of questionnaires to collect information on from the samples. I have used
questionnaire in order to gather data more accurately with the least amount of time
and hassle for the subject in order to maintain the candour of the responses. The
survey method was perceived as fitting for the objectives of this study as it seeks to
distinguish data within certain parameters, thereby creating a solid approach to the
collection and gathering of needed data. This was particurlary chosen to make the
data collection streamlined as well as to reduced costs of travel, printing and
collection of data. The survey took place between 3rd June,2019 and 28th June,2019.
Questionnaire which was used by researcher is as follows. It has 10 different
questions with only two possible answers “Yes or No”. To keep the answers more
precise only two options were given and to avoid confusion qualitative or
descriptive answers were not considered while preparing the questionnaire.
Format of the questionnaire
1. Tell Me Does The Depletion Of Ozone Layer Increase Ground-level Ultraviolet
Radiation?
2. Is Total Ozone Uni form Over The Globe?
3.Do you know the term “ozone layer depletion” and its effects?
4. Do u know what are cfcs and how they affect us?
5. Do u think that our govn.is trying best to prevent depletion?
6. Do You Know When Is The Ozone Layer Expected To Recover In Atmosphere?
7.Do you know how countries are responding to ozone layer depletion?
8. Do u think that government should make strict laws to stop ozone layer
depletion?

On the basis of this questionnaire data was collected from both the samples.
Compiled form of the data is given further in the tabular format.

Observation table in complied format -

Question Questions Responses in %
No.
Positive Negative
1 Tell Me Does The Depletion Of Ozone Layer
Increase Ground-level Ultraviolet Radiation?
2 Is Total Ozone Uni form Over The Globe?
3 Do you know the term “ozone layer
depletion” and its effects?
4 Do u know what are cfcs and how they affect
us?
5 Do u think that our govn.is trying best to
prevent depletion?
6 Do You Know When Is The Ozone Layer
Expected To Recover In Atmosphere?
7 Do you know how countries are responding to
ozone layer depletion?
8 Do u think that government should make
strict laws to stop ozone layer depletion?