Identifying Causes of Ozone Layer Depletion
The causes of ozone layer depletion are many. All of them are categorized as manmade compounds which enter the upper atmosphere and cause damage. They are chloroflurocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, methyl bromide, halons, methyl chloroform and carbon tetrachloride. As these substances enter the stratosphere, they are present for up to 200 years.
Of all the causes of ozone layer depletion, chloroflurocarbons are the most damaging. Unfortunately, these gases are used in a diverse range of industries in numerous ways. For instance, refrigerant gas is used in the operation of refrigeration and air-conditioning systems and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. Chloroflurocarbons are necessary in various firefighting equipment, aerosols, the manufacture 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 gases fluorine, chlorine and bromine, all found in manmade halocarbons, are major causes of ozone layer depletion. The main contributors are chlorine atoms, which result from chloroflurocarbons molecules and bromine atoms, which result from halons. They significantly damage the ozone even through they are safe to use and cause no environmental harm on earth.
Free radicals, like hydroxyl, nitric oxide, atomic chlorine and bromine, are among the various causes of ozone layer depletion. While hydroxyl and nitric oxide are present in the stratosphere naturally, chlorine and bromine occur due to human use. As their levels of use increase, harm to the ozone increases.
Gradually over time, the causes of ozone layer depletion will significantly harm the earth. High levels of ultraviolet rays from the sun, or radiation exposure, will lead to soaring rates of skin cancer, a breakdown in the immune system in humans and animals, a destruction of plants and less plankton in oceans. In short, the balance of the earth’s life system will be in upheaval.
Since the causes of ozone layer depletion were identified, solutions were put into place to reduce or eliminate their usage. The U.S. Clean Air Act and the Montreal Protocols address the problem internationally. The goal of these treaties is to stop the damage to the ozone layer by phasing out known contributors. With these actions, it will still take at least a century before the harmful substances are completely eliminated from the stratosphere. Once that happens, the ozone layer is capable of recovering, returning to its normal state in about 100 years.
Damage to the stratospheric ozone was first identified in 1974. If the causes of ozone layer depletion are not addressed, the end result would be global warming. As the temperature of the earth rises, weather events, like more droughts and stronger hurricanes, would occur and ice caps and glaciers would melt. As the ozone layer continues to wear down, the earth would be in direct contact with the sun’s heat and its damaging ultraviolet rays.