Ozone and Ozone Layer

Ozone (O3)
This is a highly reactive gas that is composed of three oxygen atoms; this is accountable for the
distinctive odor of the air after a thunderstorm or around an electrical equipment. Ozone is an irritating
pale blue gas that is explosive and toxic, even at low concentrations. This occurs naturally on Earth’s
Stratosphere, where it absorbs ultraviolent radiation. Ozone is usually manufactured by passing an electric
discharge through a current of oxygen or dry air.
Ozone Layer
This is one layer of the stratosphere. This is a thin layer of the Earth’s atmosphere that absorbs
almost all of the harmful ultraviolet radiation given off by the sun. Ozone Layer, or also called as
ozonosphere, this is roughly 9 to 18 miles above Earth’s surface. Approximately 90 percent of the
atmosphere’s ozone occurs in the stratosphere. In the stratosphere the temperature of the atmosphere rises
with increasing height, a phenomenon created by the absorption of solar radiation by the ozone layer. The
ozone layer effectively blocks almost all solar radiation of wavelengths less than 290 nanometers from
reaching Earth’s surface, including certain types of ultraviolet and other forms of radiation that could
injure or kill most of the living things.
Ozone Layer Depletion
The depletion of the Ozone layer is the gradual thinning of the earth's ozone layer in the upper
atmosphere caused due to the release of chemical compounds containing gaseous bromine or chlorine
from industries or other human activities. This is a major environmental problem where it increases the
amount of ultraviolet radiation that reaches Earth’s Surface, which increases the rate of skin cancer,
genetic and immune system changes.
Factors of Ozone Layer Depletion
The main causes responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer are listed below:
Chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs are the main cause of ozone layer depletion. These are released
by solvents, spray aerosols, refrigerators, air-conditioners. The molecules of chlorofluorocarbons in the
stratosphere are broken down by the ultraviolet radiations and release chlorine atoms. These atoms react
with ozone and destroy it.
Natural Causes or Calamities are also another factor in the depletion of the Ozone Layer.
The ozone layer has been found to be depleted by certain natural processes such as Sun-spots and
stratospheric winds. But it does not cause more than 1-2% of the ozone layer depletion. The volcanic
eruptions are also responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer.
Man-Made Causes are 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). Since the early 1970's, scientists observed
reduction in stratospheric ozone and it was found more prominent in Polar Regions.
Ozone Depleting Substances
ODS substances have a lifetime of about 100 years.

Ozone-Depleting Substances Sources

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) Refrigerators, air-conditioners, solvents, dry-
cleaning agents, etc.
Halons Fire-extinguishers
Carbon tetrachloride Fire extinguishers, solvents
Methyl chloroform Adhesives, aerosols
Hydrofluorocarbons Solvent cleaning, fire extinguishers, solvent
cleaning

Effects of the Ozone Layer Depletion

The depletion of the Ozone Layer has harmful effects on the environment and to living
organisms. The effects of Ozone Layer depletion are listed below:
Effects on Human and Wildlife
The humans will be directly exposed to the harmful ultraviolet radiations of the sun due to the
depletion of the ozone layer. This might result in serious health issues among humans, such as skin
diseases, cancers, sunburns, eye cataract, quick ageing and a weakened immune system. This can also
affect the lives of animals
Effects on the Environment
Strong ultraviolet rays may lead to minimal growth, flowering and photosynthesis in plants. The
ultraviolet radiation affects the plants and crops growth which may lead to the decrease of agricultural
productivity
Effects on Marine Wildlife
Planktons are greatly affected by the exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays. These are higher in the
aquatic food chain. If the planktons are destroyed, the organisms present in the lower food chain are also
affected.

Methods Preventing Ozone Depletion

 Limit Private Vehicle Driving

o Vehicles produce exhaust which contain greenhouse gasses, and when it interacts with
the water molecules in fog it creates smog which limits the vision of drivers that can lead
to accidents, it also is harmful when breath in. Limiting the number of vehicles would
significantly reduce the harmful emissions from cars. Private vehicles usually contain
less than 3 people when compared to busses that can easily transport more than 20
people, if the people who uses private vehicle switch to public transport the number of
cars in the road would decrease significantly.
 The Use of Eco-friendly household cleaning products
 o Household cleaning products usually contain toxic chemicals that interfere with the
ozone layer. With the use of household cleaning products that are proven to be eco-
friendly and free from harmful chemicals, the amount of harmful chemicals going to the
ozone layer would be reduced.
 Reduce the Use of Commercial Pesticides
o Pesticides maybe the go-to way in removing weeds, it is a very harmful process that not
only pollutes the soil but also causes ozone depleting gasses to reach the atmosphere. It
may be economic to use pesticide in vast farmlands, but the long-term damage to the
earth and the atmosphere is not worth the monetary gains.
 Prohibit the use of Aerosol propellants that contain CFCs
o CFCs (Chloroflourocarbon) is one of the main cause of the depletion of the Ozone layer,
and although the use of it has been banned or limited by governments around the world
there are still off-brand products that are not monitored which contain it. Making sure
that the products use does not contain any CFCs at all is a crucial step in reducing the
Ozone depletion.
 Avoid using Ozonolysis Purifiers.
o One of the most recent trend in appliance is the use of air purifiers in homes, and
although these purifiers does clean the intended area which it is being used it produces
ozone in the process of doing it. Ozone created by Ozonolysis purifiers can interact with
particles in the air and could potentially make it dangerous to the environment.
Global Warming
Definition of Global Warming and Green House Effect
 Over the past 50 years, the average global temperature has continued to
increase in an unprecedented rate that has never been recorded in history.
The increase in the global temperature is caused by what is known as the
“greenhouse effect” it is the warming that occurs when certain gasses in the
Earth’s atmosphere trap heat. The energy from sunlight that reaches the earth
is absorbed by the planet and the excess heat is then released back to the
atmosphere and space, the greenhouse gasses that is present in the
atmosphere then absorb some of the excess heat thereby trapping it in the
atmosphere which eventually reaches the surface of the earth again. This gas
molecules acts like the glass walls of a greenhouse which the effect got its
name from, without these greenhouse gases Earth would be too cold for life
to exist and flourish. The greenhouse effect and may be important to life but
as the saying goes too much of everything is bad, this also apply to
greenhouse effect wherein due to the large number of greenhouse gas
molecules present in the atmosphere more heat is being trapped in the
atmosphere instead of being released back to space, this is the cause for the
warming of the planet that we are experiencing now.

Effects of Global Warming

 The direct effect of Global warming is Climate Change, in which the long-
term weather pattern of certain places begins the vary year to year and
becomes unpredictable; this causes ecosystem that relies on the consistent
 weather pattern to be disrupted and may cause to the death of different
species of plants or animals.
 Also, the warming of the Earth causes polar ice caps in both north and south
pole to melt, causing an increase in sea levels around the world making areas
that used to be above water to be flooded destroying many seaside villages
and cities.
 Climate change is the reason for freak or extreme weather events, such as
super typhoons that have wind speeds stronger than they have been recorded
before causing widespread destruction on areas it affects. Climate change is a
natural phenomenon as it has already happened many times already even
long before we humans evolved from apes, the only unnatural thing about the
climate change that is happening due to global warming is that the rate of
change of the climate of the earth is happening faster than the organism in
the planet is able to adopt to.

Sources of greenhouse gases

 Energy – composed by electricity sector which involves generation, transmission, and distribution of
electricity and transportation sector that includes the movement of people and goods by cars, trucks,
trains, ships, airplanes, and other vehicles. Gases like Carbon dioxide (CO2) contributes to air
pollution in its role in the greenhouse effect. These gases are released during the combustion of fossil
fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, to produce electricity and combustion of petroleum-based
products, like gasoline, in internal combustion engines.

 Agriculture – crop and livestock production of food contribute to emissions in different types of
ways like management practices on agricultural soils, livestock ruminants, management of manure
from livestock, liming and urea application.

 Industry - the greenhouse gases emitted during industrial production are split into two
categories: direct emissions that are produced at the facility, and indirect emissions that occur off site,
but are associated with the facility's use of electricity.

 Direct emissions are produced by burning fuel for power or heat, through chemical reactions,
and from leaks from industrial processes or equipment. Most direct emissions come from the
consumption of fossil fuels for energy. A smaller number of direct emissions, roughly one
third, come from leaks from natural gas and petroleum systems, the use of fuels in production
(e.g., petroleum products used to make plastics), and chemical reactions during the
production of chemicals, iron and steel, and cement.

 Indirect emissions are produced by burning fossil fuel at a power plant to make electricity,
which is then used by an industrial facility to power industrial buildings and machinery.
 Commercial and Residential - include all homes and commercial businesses Greenhouse gas
emissions from this sector come from direct emissions including fossil fuel combustion for heating
and cooking needs, management of waste and wastewater, and leaks from refrigerants in homes and
businesses as well as indirect emissions that occur offsite but are associated with use of electricity
consumed by homes and businesses.

 Land-use Change and Forestry - Emissions or sequestration of CO2, as well as emissions of

CH4 and N2O can occur from management of lands in their current use or as lands are converted to
other land uses. Carbon dioxide is exchanged between the atmosphere and the plants and soils on
land, for example, as cropland is converted into grassland, as lands are cultivated for crops, or as
forests grow.

Effects of greenhouse gases on the environment

Greenhouse gases contributes to climate change that causes extreme weather, food supply disruptions,
and increased wildfires. Carbon dioxide traps radiation at ground level, creating ground-level ozone. This
atmospheric layer prevents the earth from cooling at night. Methane (CH4) gas absorbs the sun’s heat,
warming the atmosphere and nitrous oxide (N2O) depletes the ozone layer. They also contribute to
respiratory disease from smog and air pollution.

Methods, Standards and Laws to prevent greenhouse gases emissions

Gaseous pollutants including greenhouse gases may be removed from the effluent stream by trapping
them from the stream, by changing them chemically, or by changing the process that produces the
pollutants. Adsorption, or chemisorption, is the removal of organic compounds with an adsorbent like
activated charcoal. Incineration, or flaring, is used when an organic pollutant can be oxidized to C02 and
water, or in oxidizing H2S to S02.

 Use less energy

o Some steps that you can take to use less electricity are simple and save money - like
replacing incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs that use less electricity, adding
insulation to your home, and setting the thermostat lower in the winter and higher in the
summer, especially when no one is home. There are also new technologies that help keep
buildings energy efficient, such as glass that reflects heat, low-flow water fixtures, smart
thermostats, and new air conditioning technology with refrigerants that do not cause
warming. In urban and suburban environments, green or cool roofs can limit the amount
of heat that gets into buildings during hot days and help decrease the urban heat island
effect.
 Generate electricity without emissions

o Renewable energy sources include solar energy, geothermal, wind turbines, ocean wave
and tidal energy, waste and biomass energy, and hydropower. Because they do not burn
fossil fuels, these renewable energy sources do not release greenhouse gases into the
atmosphere as they generate electricity.

 Travel without greenhouse gas

o shifting to alternative technologies that either don’t need gasoline (like bicycles and
electric cars) or don’t need as much (like hybrid cars). Using public transportation,
carpooling, biking, and walking, leads to fewer vehicles on the road and less greenhouse
gases in the atmosphere.

 Reduce emissions from industry

o Using materials that are not made from fossil fuels and do not release greenhouse gases is
a good start. Companies can also use renewable energy sources to power factories and
ship the products that they create in fuel-saving cargo ships.

 Take Carbon out of the air

o planting trees, bamboo, and other plants increases the number of carbon sinks.
Conserving forests, grasslands, peatlands, and wetlands, where carbon is held in plants
and soils, protects existing carbon sinks. Farming methods such as planting cover crops
and crop rotation keep soils healthy so that they are effective carbon sinks. There are also
carbon dioxide removal technologies, which may be able to pull large amounts of
greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere.

 DENR Administrative Order No. 2015-04

o provides more stringent emission standards for carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon,
oxides of nitrogen, and particulate matter to be complied with by new passenger, and
light – and heavy – duty vehicles. For instance, the Order sets an average CO emissions
limit of 2.0 grams per kilometer (g/km) for gasoline – fed passenger and light – duty
vehicles instead of 2.2 g/km, and 0.9 g/km for those using diesel instead of 1.0 g/km. It
also provides that all new vehicles to be used or introduced into the Philippine market by
January 2016 shall be equipped with Euro 4 engine and compliant with Euro 4 emission
standards.
 https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions
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