The ozone layer deplation

in the atmosphere -

- man made, or due to shift

in sun’s radiation ?
 Ozone layer and its depletion

Introduction

The Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer

(a protocol to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer) is an
international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the
production of a number of substances believed to be responsible for ozone
depletion. The treaty was opened for signature on September 16, 1987, and
entered into force on January 1, 1989, followed by a first meeting in Helsinki,
May 1989.
Since then, it has undergone seven revisions, in 1990 (London), 1991 (Nairobi),
1992 (Copenhagen), 1993 (Bangkok), 1995 (Vienna), 1997 (Montreal), and 1999
(Beijing). It is believed that if the international agreement is adhered to, the
ozone layer is expected to recover by 2050 to its widespread adoption and
implementation it has been hailed as an example of exceptional international co-
operation with Kofi Annan quoted as saying that "perhaps the single most
successful international agreement to date has been the Montreal Protocol" (1)

The main purpose with The Montreal Protocol has been to stop all addition of
substances in the atmosphere that could be suspected to deplete the protecting
layer of ozone in our atmosphere. (1)
This ozone layer protects us against the dangerous, ultraviolet radiation in the
sunlight. The work with this project goes continuously on, and a long list of
suspected chemicals, such as hydrochloro- fluorocarbons, refrigerants, foam
manufactures, spray boxes, Freon chemicals and others has been stopped for
their intended use.

What is ozone layer depletion ? (4)

The ozone layer, situated in the stratosphere about

15 to 30 km above the earth’s surface, plays the
important role of “space suit” that protects us living
beings by absorbing harmful ultraviolet radiation
from the sun. The ozone layer is currently being
destroyed by CFCs and other substances. Its
depletion progress globally except in the tropical
zones.
Destruction of the ozone layer increases the
amount of harmful ultraviolet radiation (UVR) which
in turn can result in increased cases of skin cancer,
and visual impediments such as cataract. It can
also hinder the growth of plants and negatively
impact small living organisms, such as zooplankton,
phytoplankton, shrimp larvae and young fish.
The ozone layer is disappearing at particular high rate in high-latitude areas. The
ozone layer resides in the stratosphere and surrounds the entire Earth. UV_B
radiation 280-315 nanometer (nm) wavelength from the Sun is particullary
absorbed in this layer. As a result, the amount of UV-B reaching earth’s surface
is greatly reduced. UV-A
(315 – 400 nm) and other
solar radiation are not
strongly absorbed by the
ozone layer. Human
exposure to UV-B increases
the risk of skin cancer,
caracts, and a suppressed
immune systems. UV-B can
also damage terrestrial
plant life, single cell
organism and aquatic
ecosystems. (5)

Ozone layer destruction by CFCs

Since CFC (chloro fluoro carbon) are chemically stable, when released into the
atmosphere they pass through the troposphere at about 20 km altitude without
decomposing, reaching the stratosphere, where they are chemically decomposed
by short-wavelength ultraviolet rays, releasing chlorine atoms . In a chain
reaction, the chlorine atoms destroy the ozone layer in the stratosphere. (4)
The dynamic in the stratosphere

The process in the stratosphere goes very slowly, compared with what happens
in the troposphere. The stratosphere is extremely stable, and air exchange with
the troposphere is very small. Immediately, this exchange is of great importance
for the climate.
Exchanges of air between stratosphere and troposphere take mostly place over
the tropic areas, and are weakest over the Arctic and Antarctic zones. The
vertical exchange of air in the troposphere takes from hours to days, while it
takes months to years in the stratosphere to stabilize the conditions.
The small exchange between stratosphere and troposphere is an important
reason for the movement of ozone from stratosphere to troposphere. This ozone
starts the formation of hydroxyl-radicals (OH), leading to the cycle starting the
decomposing and depletion of ozone in the troposphere.

The Ozone Hole (5)

For nearly a billipon years, ozone

molecules in the atmosphere
have protected life on Earth from
the effects of ultraviolet rays.
Only 10 or less of every million
molecules of air are ozone.

In the Antarctic, a large ozone

hole has been observed for eight
consecutive years from 1989 to
1996.
Each spring in the stratospheres
over Antarctica (spring in the southern hemisphereis from September through
November), atmospheric ozone is rapidly destroyed by chemical processes.
As winter arrives, a vortex of winds develops around the pole and isolates the
polar surface. When temperatures drop below – 78 ºC , thin clouds form of ice.
nitric acid and sulphuric acid mixtures. Chmical reactions on the surface of ice
crystals in the clouds release avtive forms of CFC’s (Chloro Fluoro Carbons). Ozone
depletion begins, and the ozone “hole” apperars.
Decrease of global ozone (5)

Spesific observations show a decrease in global values over more than two
decades. The graph above compares global ozone values with the averages from
the period 1964 to 1980. The decrease worsened during the few years when
volcanic aerosol from the Mt.Pinatubo eruption in 1991.

Does it really help?

The effect of reduced amount of dangerous chemicals to the atmosphere has
given some different effect, but in general the level of ozone-depleting gases has
come down.

In a NASA report from 2001 they declared that the ozone thinning over Antarctic
had remained at the same thickness for the previous three years, but in 2003 the
ozone hole grew to its second largest size.

A more recent (2006) scientific evaluation animated the Montreal Protocol to

announce: “there is a clear evidence of a decrease in the atmospheric burden of
ozone-depleting substances, and some early signs of stratospheric ozone
recovery”

What about the sun?

Creation of short-term ozone molecules in earth’s upper stratosphere takes

place, due to a photochemical process powered by the ultraviolet radiation from
the sun.
Ozone is created when ultraviolet light of wavelength less than 240 nm strikes
atmospheric oxygen molecules, splitting them in two oxygen atoms. The
process is known as photodissociation or photolysis. Creation of stable ozone
goes over a three steps reaction.

The output of solar ultraviolet radiation is influenced by magnetically active

regions on the sun. These occur sporadically in sunspots, which are “cooler”
regions on the sun and follows the well known 11-years cycle. These variations
have a direct effect on ozone photochemistry in our atmosphere, and the
wavelength of ultraviolet radiation.

The amount of UV radiation increases with increasing sunspot activity, reaching a

maximum at solar maximum. The increase occurs principally in the shorter
wavelength UV radiation, less than 240 nm. This means that the ozone
production increases when solar activity is at maximum. (2)

The magnitude of the sunspot number during solar maximum is also variable. A
90 year variation has been observed, called the Gleissberg cycle. There are
three of these cycles with peaks in 1780, 1870 and 1960. Previous to this, ,
during the 1600’s, virtually no sunspots were observed in a period that was
referred as the Maunder minimum: (3)

Two years ago, solar prognosticators generally fell into two distinct camps (blue
line) about the timing and intensity of cycle 24. The red line denotes a new
prediction based on the lack of recent activity. (3)
This color-enhanced image from the Precision Solar Photometric Telescope, taken
in 2001 near the solar maximum, shows the bright light from faculae beating out
the darkening from the sunspots. (3)

Discussion
• The main purpose for The Montreal Protocol has been to stop all addition
of substances in the atmosphere being suspected to deplete the protecting
layer of ozone in our atmosphere. Particularly, unlike forms of CFC-
chemicals has been forbidden to bring out in our atmosphere.

• The intentions in this attempt to reduce ozone-depleting gases in the

atmosphere was announced in the Montreal Protocol (2006) like this :
“There is a clear evidence of a decrease in the atmospheric burden of
ozone –depleting substances , and some early signs of stratospheric
ozone recovery”.

• In a NASA report from 2001 they declared that the ozone thinning over
Antarctic had remained the same thickness for the previous years, but in
2003 the ozone hole grew to its second largest size.

• The formation of ozone in our atmosphere comes due to the ultra-violet

radiation in the sunlight. The created ozone is unstable, and will
decompose after a certain time. Only a stable UVR-radiation can maintain
an appropriate ozone concentration in our atmosphere.

• The sun has instability in its radiations, connected to its sunspot activity.
There has been long periods with extreme low activity ( Mander Minimum)
1650-1700, and a shorter one in 1800-1820, Dalton Minimum).

• The number of sunspots showed an increasing rate with a maximum about

1999-2003, and a prediction for 2009 to 2020 gives a similar tendency.
Whether increased or decreased number of sunspots should create a
change in production of ozone and affect it’s depletion, no reports confirm
this.
 Skien, 24.november 2009

Kjell W. Tveten

References

(1) Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MONTREAL_Protocol

(2) Ozone variability in the upper stratosphere

http://www.ccpo.odu.edu/SEES/ozone/class/Chap_8/8_4.htm

(3) Sky&Telescope, August 2009: What’s wrong with the Sun ?

(4) What is ozone layer destruction ? The APEC Virtual Center for ...
http://www.epcc.pref.osaka.jp/apec/eng/earth/ozone_layer_depleti
on/sus umu.html

(5) The Ozone Hole , United Nations Environmental Programme

http://www.theozonehole.com/