What is the cause of the ozone holes. Protection of the ozone layer in Russia

Ozone holes

It is known that the main part of natural ozone is concentrated in the stratosphere at an altitude of 15 to 50 km above the Earth's surface. The ozone layer begins at altitudes of about 8 km above the poles (or 17 km above the Equator) and extends upwards to altitudes of approximately 50 km. However, the density of ozone is very low, and if you compress it to the density that air has at the surface of the earth, then the thickness of the ozone layer will not exceed 3.5 mm. Ozone is formed when solar ultraviolet radiation bombards oxygen molecules.

Most of the ozone is in the five-kilometer layer at an altitude of 20 to 25 km, which is called the ozone layer.

protective role. Ozone absorbs some ultraviolet radiation Sun: moreover, its wide absorption band (wavelength 200-300 nm) includes radiation that is harmful to all life on Earth.

Reasons for the formation of the "ozone hole"

In summer and spring, ozone concentrations rise; above polar regions it is always higher than over the equatorial ones. In addition, it changes according to an 11-year cycle, coinciding with the cycle of solar activity. All this was already well known in the 1980s. Observations have shown that a slow but steady decrease in the concentration of stratospheric ozone occurs over the Antarctic from year to year. This phenomenon has been called the "ozone hole" (although no hole in own meaning this word, of course, did not exist) and began to be carefully examined. Later, in the 1990s, the same decrease began to occur over the Arctic. The phenomenon of the Antarctic "ozone hole" is not yet clear: whether the "hole" arose as a result of anthropogenic pollution of the atmosphere, or whether it is a natural geoastrophysical process.

At first it was assumed that ozone was affected by particles emitted in atomic explosions; tried to explain the change in ozone concentration by rocket flights and high-altitude aircraft. In the end, it was clearly established that the cause of the undesirable phenomenon is the reaction with ozone of certain substances produced by chemical plants. These are primarily chlorinated hydrocarbons and especially freons - chlorofluorocarbons, or hydrocarbons, in which all or most of hydrogen atoms are replaced by fluorine and chlorine atoms.

It is assumed that due to the destructive effect of chlorine and similarly acting bromine, by the end of the 1990s. ozone concentration in the stratosphere decreased by 10%.

In 1985, British scientists released data showing that over the previous eight years, ozone holes had been found to increase each spring over the North and South Poles.

Scientists have proposed three theories to explain the causes of this phenomenon:

nitrogen oxides - compounds that form naturally in sunlight;

destruction of ozone by chlorine compounds.

First of all, it should be clear: the ozone hole, contrary to its name, is not a hole in the atmosphere. The ozone molecule differs from the ordinary oxygen molecule in that it consists not of two, but of three oxygen atoms connected to each other. In the atmosphere, ozone is concentrated in the so-called ozone layer, at an altitude of about 30 km within the stratosphere. This layer absorbs ultraviolet rays emitted by the Sun, otherwise solar radiation could cause great harm to life on the surface of the Earth. Therefore, any threat to the ozone layer deserves the most serious attitude. In 1985, British scientists working at the South Pole discovered that during the Antarctic spring, the level of ozone in the atmosphere was significantly below normal. Every year at the same time, the amount of ozone was decreasing - sometimes more, sometimes less. Similar but less pronounced ozone holes have also appeared over north pole during the arctic spring.

In subsequent years, scientists figured out why the ozone hole appears. When the sun hides and the long polar night begins, there is a sharp drop in temperature, and high stratospheric clouds form containing ice crystals. The appearance of these crystals causes a series of complex chemical reactions leading to the accumulation of molecular chlorine (the chlorine molecule consists of two connected chlorine atoms). When the sun appears and the Antarctic spring begins, under the action of ultraviolet rays, intramolecular bonds are broken, and a stream of chlorine atoms rushes into the atmosphere. These atoms act as catalysts for the conversion of ozone into simple oxygen, proceeding according to the following double scheme:

Cl + O3 -> ClO + O2 and ClO + O -> Cl + O2

As a result of these reactions, ozone molecules (O3) are converted into oxygen molecules (O2), while the original chlorine atoms remain in a free state and again participate in this process (each chlorine molecule destroys a million ozone molecules before they are removed from the atmosphere by the action of others). chemical reactions). As a result of this chain of transformations, ozone begins to disappear from the atmosphere over Antarctica, forming an ozone hole. However, soon, with warming, the Antarctic vortices are destroyed, Fresh air(containing new ozone) rushes into the area and the hole disappears.

In 1987, the Montreal Protocol was adopted, according to which a list of the most dangerous chlorofluorocarbons was determined, and the countries producing chlorofluorocarbons pledged to reduce their release. In June 1990, in London, the Montreal Protocol was amended: by 1995, reduce the production of freons by half, and by 2000, stop it altogether.

It has been established that the ozone content is influenced by nitrogen-containing air pollutants, which appear both as a result of natural processes and as a result of anthropogenic pollution.

So, NO is formed in internal combustion engines. Accordingly, the launch of rockets and supersonic aircraft leads to the destruction of the ozone layer.

The source of NO in the stratosphere is also N2O gas, which is stable in the troposphere and decomposes in the stratosphere under the action of hard UV radiation.

Greenhouse effect

The greenhouse effect is an increase in the temperature of the lower layers of the planet's atmosphere due to the accumulation greenhouse gases. Its mechanism is as follows: the sun's rays penetrate the atmosphere, heat the surface of the planet. The thermal radiation that comes from the surface should return to space, but the lower atmosphere is too dense for them to penetrate. The reason for this is greenhouse gases. Heat rays linger in the atmosphere, increasing its temperature.

Research history greenhouse effect

For the first time they started talking about the phenomenon in 1827. Then an article by Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier appeared “Note on Temperatures the globe and other planets”, where he outlined in detail his ideas about the mechanism of the greenhouse effect and the reasons for its appearance on Earth. In his research, Fourier relied not only on his own experiments, but also on the judgments of M. De Saussure. The latter conducted experiments with a glass vessel blackened from the inside, closed and placed under sunlight. The temperature inside the vessel was much higher than outside. This is due to such a factor: thermal radiation cannot pass through darkened glass, which means it remains inside the container. At the same time, sunlight boldly penetrates through the walls, since the outside of the vessel remains transparent.

Causes

The nature of the phenomenon is explained by the different transparency of the atmosphere for radiation from space and from the surface of the planet. The atmosphere of the planet is transparent to the sun's rays, like glass, and therefore they easily pass through it. And for thermal radiation, the lower layers of the atmosphere are "impenetrable", too dense to pass through. That is why part of the thermal radiation remains in the atmosphere, gradually descending to its lowest layers. At the same time, the amount of greenhouse gases condensing the atmosphere is growing. Back in school, we were taught that the main cause of the greenhouse effect is human activity. Evolution has led us to industry, we burn tons of coal, oil and gas, we get fuel, the roads are filled with cars. The consequence of this is the release of greenhouse gases and substances into the atmosphere. Among them are water vapor, methane, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide. Why they are so named is understandable. The surface of the planet is heated by the sun's rays, but it necessarily "gives" some of the heat back. Thermal radiation that comes from the Earth's surface is called infrared. Greenhouse gases in the lower part of the atmosphere do not allow heat rays to return to space, delay them. As a result, the average temperature of the planet is increasing, and this leads to dangerous consequences. Is there really nothing that can regulate the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere? Of course it can. Oxygen does this job well. But here's the problem - the number of the planet's population is growing inexorably, which means that more and more oxygen is being absorbed. Our only salvation is vegetation, especially forests. They absorb excess carbon dioxide, emit much more oxygen than humans consume.

Greenhouse effect and Earth's climate

When we talk about the consequences of the greenhouse effect, we understand its impact on the Earth's climate. The first is global warming. Many equate the concepts of "greenhouse effect" and "global warming", but they are not equal, but interrelated: the first is the cause of the second. Global warming directly connected to the oceans. Here is an example of two causal relationships. The average temperature of the planet rises, the liquid begins to evaporate. This also applies to the World Ocean: some scientists are afraid that in a couple of hundred years it will begin to “dry up”. At the same time, due to high temperature glaciers and sea ice will begin to melt actively in the near future. This will lead to an inevitable rise in the level of the World Ocean. We are already seeing regular floods in coastal areas, but if the level of the World Ocean rises significantly, all the nearby land areas will be flooded, crops will die.

Impact on people's lives

Do not forget that the increase average temperature The earth will also affect our lives. The consequences can be very serious. Many territories of our planet, already prone to drought, will become absolutely unviable, people will begin to migrate en masse to other regions. This will inevitably lead to socio-economic problems, to the beginning of the third and fourth world wars. Lack of food, destruction of crops - that's what awaits us in the next century. But is it necessary to wait? Or is it still possible to change something? Can humanity reduce the harm from the greenhouse effect? Marshy lands are able to prevent the greenhouse effect, the largest swamp in the world, Vasyugan.

Actions that can save the Earth

To date, all the harmful factors that lead to the accumulation of greenhouse gases are known, and we know what needs to be done to stop it. Do not think that one person will not change anything. Of course, only all of humanity can achieve an effect, but who knows - maybe a hundred more people are reading a similar article at that moment? Conservation of forests Stop deforestation. Plants are our salvation! In addition, it is necessary not only to preserve existing forests, but also to actively plant new ones. Everyone should understand this problem. Photosynthesis is so powerful that it can provide us with a huge amount of oxygen. It will be enough for the normal life of people and the elimination of harmful gases from the atmosphere. Use of electric vehicles Refusal to use fuel-powered vehicles. Each car highlights great amount greenhouse gases per year, so why not opt for health environment? Scientists are already offering us electric vehicles – environmentally friendly cars that do not use fuel. Minus the "fuel" car - another step towards the elimination of greenhouse gases. All over the world they are trying to accelerate this transition, but so far the current developments of such machines are far from perfect. Even in Japan, where there is the greatest use of such cars, they are not ready to completely switch to their use. Alternative to hydrocarbon fuel Invention of alternative energy. Humanity does not stand still, so why are we "stuck" on the use of coal, oil and gas? Burning these natural ingredients leads to the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, so it's time to switch to environmentally friendly clean look energy. We cannot completely abandon everything that emits harmful gases. But we can contribute to an increase in oxygen in the atmosphere. Not only a real man must plant a tree - every person must do this! What is the most important thing in solving any problem? Don't close your eyes to her. We may not notice the harm from the greenhouse effect, but future generations will definitely notice. We can stop burning coal and oil, save natural vegetation planet, to abandon the conventional car in favor of an environmentally friendly one - and all for what? In order for our Earth to exist after us

Ozone holes

Ozone hole - a local drop in the concentration of ozone in the ozone layer of the Earth

Everyone knows that our planet is enveloped by a fairly dense ozone layer, located at an altitude of 12-50 km above the earth's surface. This air layer is a reliable protection of all living things from dangerous ultraviolet radiation and avoids harmful effects. solar radiation.

It was thanks to the ozone layer that microorganisms once managed to get out of the oceans onto land and contributed to the emergence of highly developed forms of life. However, since the beginning of the 20th century, the ozone layer began to break down, as a result of which ozone holes began to appear in some places in the stratosphere.

What are ozone holes?

Contrary to popular belief that the ozone hole is a hole in the sky, in fact it is a site of a significant decrease in the level of ozone in the stratosphere. In such places, it is easier for ultraviolet rays to penetrate to the surface of the planet and exert their destructive effect on everything living on it.

Unlike places with a normal concentration of ozone in holes, the content of the "blue" substance is only about 30%.

Where are the ozone holes located?

The first large ozone hole was discovered over Antarctica in 1985. Its diameter was about 1000 km, and it appeared every year in August, and disappeared by the beginning of winter. Then the researchers determined that the concentration of ozone over the mainland was reduced by 50%, and its largest decrease was recorded at altitudes from 14 to 19 km.
Subsequently, another large hole (smaller) was discovered over the Arctic, and now scientists know hundreds of such phenomena, although the largest one is still the one that occurs over Antarctica.

AT recent times newspapers and magazines are full of articles about the role of the ozone layer, in which people are intimidated by possible problems in the future. From scientists you can hear about the upcoming climate changes, which will negatively affect all life on Earth. Will a potential danger far from people really turn out to be such horrific events for all earthlings? What are the consequences of the destruction of the ozone layer for humanity?

The formation process and significance of the ozone layer

Ozone is a derivative of oxygen. While in the stratosphere, oxygen molecules are exposed to chemical attack ultraviolet radiation, after which they break up into free atoms, which, in turn, have the ability to combine with other molecules. With such an interaction of oxygen molecules and atoms with third bodies, a new substance is formed - this is how ozone is formed.

Being in the stratosphere, it affects the thermal regime of the Earth and the health of its population. As a planetary "guardian" ozone absorbs excess ultraviolet radiation. However, when it enters the lower atmosphere in large quantities, it becomes quite dangerous for the human species.

An unfortunate discovery of scientists - the ozone hole over Antarctica

The process of destruction of the ozone layer has been the subject of many discussions among scientists around the world since the late 1960s. In those years, environmentalists began to raise the problem of emissions of combustion products into the atmosphere in the form of water vapor and nitrogen oxides, which produced jet engines rockets and airliners. There has been concern about the ozone-destroying property of nitric oxide emitted by aircraft at 25 km altitude, which is the formation area of the earth's shield. In 1985, the British Antarctic Survey recorded a 40% decrease in atmospheric ozone over their base at Halley Bay.

After British scientists, this problem was covered by many other researchers. They managed to delineate an area with a low ozone content already beyond southern mainland. Because of this, the problem of the formation of ozone holes began to rise. Shortly thereafter, another ozone hole was discovered, now in the Arctic. However, it was smaller in size, with an ozone leakage of up to 9%.

According to the results of research, scientists have calculated that in 1979-1990 the concentration of this gas in the earth's atmosphere decreased by about 5%.

Destruction of the ozone layer: the appearance of ozone holes

The thickness of the ozone layer can be 3-4mm, it maximum values are at the poles, and the minima are located at the equator. The largest concentration of gas can be found at 25 kilometers in the stratosphere over the Arctic. Dense layers sometimes occur at altitudes up to 70 km, usually in the tropics. The troposphere does not have a large amount of ozone, as it is more susceptible to seasonal changes and pollution of a different nature.

As soon as the gas concentration decreases by one percent, there is an increase in the intensity of ultraviolet light above the earth's surface by 2%. The influence of ultraviolet rays on planetary organics is compared with ionizing radiation.

The depletion of the ozone layer can cause disasters that will be associated with excessive heating, increased wind speeds and air circulation, which can lead to the emergence of new desert areas and reduce agricultural yields.

Encounter with ozone in everyday life

Sometimes after rain, especially in summer, the air becomes unusually fresh, pleasant, and people say that it “smells like ozone”. This is not figurative at all. In fact, some degree of ozone passes to the lower layers of the atmosphere with flows air masses. This type of gas is considered the so-called useful ozone, which brings a feeling of extraordinary freshness to the atmosphere. Basically, such phenomena are observed after thunderstorms.

However, there is also a very harmful, extremely dangerous variety of ozone for people. It is produced by exhaust gases and industrial emissions, and when exposed to the sun's rays, enters into a photochemical reaction. As a result, the so-called ground-level ozone is formed, which is extremely harmful to human health.

Substances that destroy the ozone layer: the action of freons

Scientists have proven that freons, which are massively charged with refrigerators and air conditioners, as well as numerous aerosol cans, cause the destruction of the ozone layer. Thus, it turns out that almost every person has a hand in the destruction of the ozone layer.

The causes of ozone holes are that freon molecules react with ozone molecules. Solar radiation forces freons to release chlorine. As a result, ozone splits, resulting in the formation of atomic and ordinary oxygen. In places where such interactions occur, the problem of ozone depletion occurs, and ozone holes occur.

Of course, industrial emissions bring the greatest harm to the ozone layer, but domestic use drugs that contain freon, one way or another, too, has its effect on the destruction of ozone.

Ozone layer protection

After scientists documented that the ozone layer is still being destroyed, and ozone holes appear, politicians thought about its preservation. There have been consultations and meetings around the world on these issues. They were attended by representatives of all states with a well-developed industry.

So, in 1985, the Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer was adopted. This document was signed by representatives from forty-four states participating in the conference. A year later, another important document was signed, called the Montreal Protocol. In accordance with its provisions, there should have been a significant reduction in the world production and consumption of substances that lead to the violation of the ozone layer.

However, some states were unwilling to comply with such restrictions. Then, for each state, specific quotas for hazardous emissions into the atmosphere were determined.

Protection of the ozone layer in Russia

In accordance with current Russian legislation legal protection the ozone layer is one of the most important and priority areas. Legislation related to environmental protection regulates the list of protective measures aimed at protecting this natural object from various kinds of damage, pollution, destruction and depletion. Thus, Article 56 of the Legislation describes some activities related to the protection of the planet's ozone layer:

Organizations for monitoring the effect of the ozone hole;
Permanent control over climate change;
Strict compliance regulatory framework on harmful emissions into the atmosphere;
Production regulation chemical compounds which destroy the ozone layer;
Application of penalties and penalties for violation of the law.

Possible solutions and first results

You should know that ozone holes are a fickle phenomenon. With the reduction of the amount of harmful emissions into the atmosphere, the gradual tightening of ozone holes begins - ozone molecules from neighboring areas are activated. However, in this case, another risk factor arises - neighboring areas are deprived of a significant amount of ozone, the layers become thinner.

Scientists around the world continue to research and intimidate with bleak conclusions. They calculated that if the presence of ozone decreased by only 1% in the upper atmosphere, then there would be an increase in skin cancers up to 3-6%. Furthermore, a large number of ultraviolet rays will adversely affect the immune system of people. They will become more vulnerable to a wide variety of infections.

It is possible that this can actually explain the fact that in the 21st century the number of malignant tumors. Increasing the level of ultraviolet radiation also negatively affects nature. There is a destruction of cells in plants, the process of mutation begins, as a result of which less oxygen is produced.

Will humanity cope with the upcoming challenges?

According to the latest statistical data, humanity is facing a global catastrophe. However, science also has optimistic reports. After the adoption of the Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, all mankind has already taken up the problem of saving the ozone layer. Following the development of a number of prohibitive and precautionary measures, the situation was somewhat stabilized. Thus, some researchers argue that if all of humanity engages in industrial production within reasonable limits, the problem of ozone holes can be successfully solved.

If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.

Ozone (O 3 ) is formed in the atmosphere from oxygen during electrical discharges during thunderstorms and under the influence of ultraviolet radiation from the Sun in the stratosphere. The ozone layer (ozone screen, ozonosphere) is located in the atmosphere at an altitude of 10-50 km with a maximum concentration of ozone at an altitude of 20-25 km (it is thinner above the poles, like the entire atmosphere, and thicker above the equator). If the entire amount of ozone is collected under normal conditions (pressure 760 mm Hg and temperature 20 ° C), then the thickness of this layer will be only 2.5 - 3 mm.

Significance of the ozone layer

The ozone screen delays the penetration to the earth's surface of the most severe UV radiation of the Sun, the deadly "B-band", which affects all living things. The reduction of the ozone layer leads to a sharp increase in oncological diseases (a decrease in the layer by 1% means an increase in ultraviolet radiation by 2% and leads to an increase in skin cancer by 5–6%), damage to the cornea of the eyes and blindness, the development of a mutation, a decrease in the productivity of some plant species , and with a strong reduction - to the destruction of all living things.

Excess UV radiation disrupts the body's immune defenses, contributing to the appearance of such diseases in humans as lupus (skin tuberculosis), erysipelas, smallpox, leishmaniasis, viral herpes, etc.

It has been established that a decrease in the ozone content in the atmosphere can contribute to an increase in the greenhouse effect more significantly than an increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide.

Excessive flux of UV radiation is detrimental to phyto- and zooplankton, larvae of many fish.

A bit of history

Ozone holes most often appear over the poles, where the thickness of the atmosphere is less, and they reach their greatest magnitudes over Antarctica (where it is colder). This phenomenon began to be noted back in the 70s of the twentieth century, but they reached a maximum in the mid-80s.

So, in October 1985, there were reports that the ozone concentration in the stratosphere over the English station Halley Bay (Antarctica) decreased by 40% of its minimum values, and over the Japanese station - by almost 2 times .. This phenomenon was named "ozone hole". Significant ozone holes over Antarctica arose, as a rule, in the spring of 1987, 1992, 1997, when a decrease in the total stratospheric ozone (TO) by 40-60% was recorded. In the spring of 1998, the ozone hole over Antarctica reached a record area - 26 million square meters. km (3 times the size of Australia). And at an altitude of 14-25 km, almost complete destruction of ozone occurred in the atmosphere.

Similar phenomena were noted in the Arctic (especially since the spring of 1986), but the size of the ozone hole here was almost 2 times smaller than over the Antarctic. In March 1995, the Arctic ozone layer was depleted by about 50%, with the formation of "mini-holes" over the northern regions of Canada and the Scandinavian Peninsula, the Scottish Isles (UK).

Ozone holes are noted not only over the poles. There are cases when holes spread to South America led to the blinding of livestock, mainly cattle. In the Kyrgyz Republic, an ozone hole was noted in May 1995 over high-mountainous regions. The size and duration (about 4-5 days) of its existence were insignificant, and it did not lead to any consequences.

Reasons for the formation of ozone holes

Numerous international expeditions to study ozone holes in Antarctica to the Arctic have established that, in addition to various natural factors, the presence of a significant amount of CFCs (freons) in the atmosphere is still the main one.

Freons (chlorofluorocarbons) - highly volatile, chemically inert earth's surface substances (synthesized in the 1930s), since the 1960s. began to be widely used as refrigerants (refrigerators, air conditioners, refrigerators), foaming agents for aerosols, etc. Freons, rising into the upper layers of the atmosphere, undergo photochemical decomposition, forming chlorine oxide, which intensively destroys ozone (each chlorine atom is capable of destroying 100,000 ozone molecules). The duration of stay of freons in the atmosphere is on average 50-200 years.

Protection measuresozone layer

In 1985, the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer was adopted.

In 1987, in Montreal, representatives of 36 countries signed a Protocol under which they committed themselves to reduce the use and then eliminate the use in industry and in the home of ozone-depleting substances (ODS). After 10 years, the number of countries that have signed this Protocol has increased to 163.

In a number of countries, in order to protect the ozone layer, alternative ozone-safe substitutes for freons were obtained, in particular, firms in Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and Great Britain began to use the refrigerant - isobutane, which has zero ozone-depleting potential. In many countries, in the production of aerosols, they began to use environmentally friendly freon - a hydrocarbon propellant (80% of all aerosols produced in the world).

In the United States and Russia, research has already begun on active methods based on complex physicochemical processes that either reduce the rate of ozone destruction in the stratosphere or accelerate its formation. So, to tighten ozone holes over Antarctica, it is possible to use the method of injection (introduction) into the stratosphere of ethane (C 2 H b) or propane (C 3 H 8), which will bind atomic chlorine, which destroys ozone, into passive hydrogen chloride. There are also physical and chemical methods that accelerate the formation of ozone in the stratosphere, in particular methods of electromagnetic radiation, using electrical discharges (the ozonator principle) and laser radiation.

In addition, in order to prevent the release of CFCs from the many available cooling devices, methods for their disposal have been developed.

Recently, the public has been increasingly concerned about environmental issues - protecting the environment, animals, reducing the amount of harmful and dangerous emissions. Surely everyone has also heard about what an ozone hole is, and that there are a lot of them in the modern stratosphere of the Earth. And there is.

Modern anthropogenic activities and technological development threaten the existence of animals and plants on Earth, as well as the very life of people.

The ozone layer is the protective shell of the blue planet, which is located in the stratosphere. Its height is about twenty-five kilometers from the earth's surface. And this layer is formed from oxygen, which, under the influence of solar radiation, undergoes chemical transformations. The local decrease in ozone concentration (in the common people this is the well-known "hole") is currently caused by many reasons. First of all, this, of course, is human activity (both industrial and everyday household). There are, however, opinions that the ozone layer is destroyed under the influence of exclusively natural phenomena not related to people.

Anthropogenic influence

Having understood what the ozone hole is, it is necessary to find out what kind of human activity contributes to its appearance. First of all, these are aerosols. Every day we use deodorants, hairsprays, eau de toilette with spray bottles and often do not think about the fact that this adversely affects the protective layer of the planet.

The fact is that the compounds that are present in the cans we are used to (including bromine and chlorine) readily react with oxygen atoms. Therefore, the ozone layer is destroyed, turning after such chemical reactions into completely useless (and often harmful) substances.

Destructive compounds for the ozone layer are also present in life-saving summer heat air conditioners and refrigeration equipment. The widespread industrial activity of man also weakens earthly defenses. It is oppressed by industrial water (some of the harmful substances evaporate over time), pollute the stratosphere and cars. The latter, as statistics show, is becoming more and more every year. negatively affects the ozone layer and

natural influence

Knowing what an ozone hole is, you must also have an idea of how many of them are above the surface of our planet. The answer is disappointing: there are many gaps in earthly protection. They are small and often do not represent a hole, but a very thin remaining layer of ozone. However, there are also two huge unprotected spaces. This is the Arctic and Antarctic ozone hole.

The stratosphere above the Earth's poles contains almost no protective layer at all. What is it connected with? There are no cars there industrial productions. It's all about natural influence, the second reason Polar vortices arise when warm and cold air flows collide. These gas formations contain nitric acid in large quantities, which, under the influence of very low temperatures and reacts with ozone.

Environmentalists began to sound the alarm only in the twentieth century. Destructive ones that make their way to the ground without bumping into an ozone barrier can cause skin cancer in humans, as well as the death of many animals and plants (primarily marine). So, international organizations almost all compounds that destroy the protective layer of our planet were banned. It is believed that even if humanity abruptly stops all negative impact on the ozone in the stratosphere, the holes that currently exist will not disappear very soon. This is due to the fact that freons that have already made their way up are able to exist independently in the atmosphere for decades.