Antarctic Ozone Hole

What is ozone?

Ozone is a gas oxygen atoms. Usually, the added oxygen atoms - and the oxygen that we have, which, helps, and water is a form of breathing. Oxygen, but sometimes a molecule made of three oxygen atoms, we call ozone:

O2 - two atoms of oxygen - in common with the garden or with oxygen

O3 - three atoms of oxygen - ozone

Ozone that ultraviolet radiation (UV) of a very practical large quantities - more than short, one can add is a small program.

Where is the ozone?

The earth's ozone layer in the whole world, but not most of the layer of atmosphere called Stratosphere. The top layer of the atmosphere and is 12.9 to 19.3 km (12 miles above our heads 8) and to around 50 km to the (30 miles). Equator to the poles of Stratosphere no clouds or bad weather, and much better than other forms.

Stratosphere that the oxygen molecules in ozone on the action of sunlight. In particular, a large ultraviolet energy from the sun is effectively ensures that the two oxygen atoms in oxygen molecules:

O2 ---------> H + H

One of them, then one of the ozone molecules to oxygen molecules with a joint:

H + O2 ---------> O3

Ozone, with only one oxygen atom with the oxygen to return can be deleted. UV light in the Stratosphere is necessary for ozone, ozone layer of the atmosphere and the decision of the deep UV to absorb light. The result is that the amount of ozone is the largest, is about 20 km. Ultraviolet light is there because we have a lot, and the visit of high concentrations of ozone in the atmosphere is good news for us, it is.

Why is the problem of the ozone hole?

Ozone in the Stratosphere an entertaining and life on earth for a large contribution, it absorbs the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays, while other wavelengths of light.

F is a hole in the ozone layer that our more harmful UV rays or other living beings, plants or animals is a good thing for it means. Too much ultra-violet light can result in:

1.Skin cancer
2.Eye damage such as cataracts
3.Immune system damage
4.Reduction in phytoplankton in the oceans that forms the basis of all marine food
chains including those in Antarctica.
5.Damage to the DNA in various life-forms So far this has been as observed in Antarctic ice-fish that lack pigments to shield them from the ultra-violet light (they've never needed them before)
6.Probably other things too that we don't know about at the moment.

Why does a ozone hole form over Antarctica?

Air pollutants in the ozone hole has indicated that the effects of ozone in the Stratosphere destroys. In Antarctica during the winter, something special is happening in Antarctica.

First, the "polar vortex" of the entire continent is known as the number of strong winds - the air is the cause of the Antarctic and for the rest of the world.
The second shot clouds called polar stratospheric clouds. Usually is not clear what process accelerated as the pollutants, the concentration, ozone, the effect of clouds in the Stratosphere.

A time when the spring comes and the sun's long polar night, ozone depletion important Antarctic "ozone hole is due to come after." Unfortunately, a very long time, strong sunlight and long only the worst effects of the ozone hole.

Ozone in the atmosphere in Dobson Units, about 300 Dobson units of ozone in the atmosphere of the average concentration. The ozone hole, when the concentration falls below 220 Dobson Units is.

The following pictures are courtesy of NASA. They show the limits of the lack of ozone layer. While the light, green, blue and yellow purple black and blue, the color for the weaker sections of ozone, ozone pixels of the analog signal gets progressively stronger.

What are due to the ozone layer?

Ozone is destroyed by chemicals chlorofluorocarbons and nitrogen oxides CFC's called. Ironically, because they CFC's is considered to be safe in large quantities and disabled () before chemicals were not reactive. The similar chemical gases in the refrigeration, air conditioning, aerosols, solvents and some types of packaging used in the production of a group are. Nitrogen oxides from combustion of fuel such as evacuation aircraft are byproducts.

CFC is not clear, it's man's chemistry. They are right because they are doing and what they have done. But once the atmosphere, the gravity. The problem is that we absolutely believe we are to realize several years, but really, we all 'production will disappear again for decades at one level.

This reaction is so complex that ozone is destroyed. Ice on the surface of polar stratospheric cloud particles occurs, and only a small amount of CFC to destroy an awful lot of ozone.

Ozone hole over Antarctica will remain?

On the annual Antarctic ozone depletion, this measure was used in all areas of the search. Ozone depletion in the world except the tropics was. This fatigue usually the equator, and recently an ozone hole (in the form of various sectors small amounts) to the North Pole in the Arctic is worse.

Still the distribution of ozone in the atmosphere about is enough to learn. Outside the polar regions and the heat of the ozone layer in particular is not well understood.

So now the "ozone hole" for Antarctica, but that the ozone layer of the less serious symptom is the loss for the whole world. How serious and important for the future, it is not known.

Can the ozone hole recover?

Construction, development and distribution of the ozone layer to solve the ozone layer, especially nitrogen oxides CFC's and destroy the chemicals is to reduce production.

If half of these agreements by individuals CFC's of the emissions is to reduce the Montreal Protocol in 1987, was signed by many countries.

Potential problems that a priority of the CFC are not seen as one of the countries, and the cold heavy air in the world, nor of CFC's come. If the file is not deleted, CFC's independent of the air and destroys the ozone.

This problem, research groups around the world, according to a survey by the solution is not. According to recent estimates of both production and release of CFC's right, below the ozone around the world in 2050 is likely to have to be regulated.