The main cause of Ozone Depletion are CFCs. CFC's drift in the environment until they reach the stratosphere. The UV radiation splits the chlorine from CFC's which attracts one of the three ozone atoms and destroys the ozone into ordinary oxygen. CFC's were ordinarilly used to replace the ammonia and its effects. All commonly used refrigerants have global warming potential, but many countries have grew to using alternatives to limit the global warming possibility. The depletion of ozone has been for many years and will remain for many more years.
Here are the equations of ozone breaking down into oxygen
ClO+O yields Cl+O2
Cl+O3 yields ClO+O2
O3 yields 2O2
Additional causes of ozone depletion are cold weather and use of other chemicals. Warm weather is able to increase the concentrations of Ozone and rebuild the hole. With cold weather, ice surfaces are formed on the stratosphere allowing chemical reactions to take place mostly from CFC's. Ice clouds are also formed, and UV rays break CFC molecules into smaller ones and make chemcial reactions on the ice particles in the clouds which in return destroys ozone. Between August and October, ozone molecules in layer decrease by 2/3 and stop around November. From November to late spring, the polar jet weakens enabling the ozone concentrations to try to come back to normal, but the effect may last for 50-200 years.
Effects:
For every 1% of ozone depleted, 2% of UV -B is able to reach the planet which is harmful because it can cause skin cancer. Researchers have predicted that 60 million Americans by 2075 will get skin cancer and with one million dying. Also there will be increased rates by 17 million cases of
- Cataracts
- Malaria
- Other Infections
- Diseases
Also small sea microscopic organisms might not be able to survive, meaning other organisms that rely on these organism for food will also die.
Wind patterns can change and so as climate changes. In addition, forests and deserts will be harmed.
