Introduction

The Greek word ouzo means smell. It is derived from oxygen. Ozone, with the chemical formula O₃, is a molecule made of three oxygen atoms. On the other hand, an oxygen molecule has two oxygen atoms. Ozone is a blue-coloured poisonous gas. This gas has a pungent odour. The inventor of ozone gas is the German scientist Schönbein. In 1839, Schonby discovered ozone gas in the laboratory. While it is naturally present in the Earth’s atmosphere, it is either beneficial or harmful based on its location. On the one hand, ground-level ozone is a toxic pollutant contributing to smog. On the other hand, ozone in the stratosphere—known commonly as the ozone layer—plays a crucial role in protecting life on Earth. Every year on September 16, we celebrate World Ozone Day. In this blog post, we look at what ozone is, the importance of the ozone layer, the risks it faces, and the protection it gets worldwide.

The Ozone Layer: What Is It, and How Was It Discovered?

The ozone layer is the thin layer of the Earth’s stratosphere that contains the highest concentration of ozone molecules. It lies about 15 to 35 kilometres above the Earth’s surface and absorbs most of the Sun’s harmful UV radiation, especially the UV-B fraction.

The ozone layer was discovered in 1913 by French physicists Charles Fabry and Henri Buisson. In 1950, scientist Gordon Dobson called scientists’ attention to the ozone layer’s depletion in the atmosphere. Later, British meteorologist G.M.B. Dobson developed a means of measuring the atmospheric level of ozone; his creation, the Dobson Unit, is still used today. In 1982, during the survey of the Antarctic region. JC Farman was the first to discover the existence of the ozone hole. In 1987, scientists began to doubt the depletion of the ozone layer by conducting a more detailed study of the South Pole sky. It should be noted here that by 1970, the concentration of ozone gas in the atmosphere of Antarctica was 300 Dobson units, which in 2020 has decreased to 94 Dobson units.

What Does the Ozone Layer Do and Why Is It Important?

The ozone layer protects life on Earth by absorbing the harmful UV radiation emitted by the Sun. Without this layer, UV-B rays would cross the atmosphere and reach the surface of the Earth, having severe consequences on living organisms, such as the following:

• Increased Skin Cancer Rates: One of the primary causes of skin cancers, including melanoma, is indeed caused by prolonged exposure to UV radiation.
• Eye Damage: It can cause several eye-related problems, including cataracts.
• Damage to Ecosystems: The excess UV radiation coming through can destroy crops, reduce agricultural productivity and aquatic ecosystems, and, most of all, phytoplankton, the base of the oceanic food chain.
• Effects on Climate: The ozone layer also contributes to the Earth’s climate by affecting atmospheric circulation patterns.

How is the Ozone Layer being Destroyed?

Men’s activities are destroying the ozone layer. The predominant cause of depletion of the ozone layer is the ODS released into the atmosphere, In 1974, American scientists Nolina and Roland were the first to fear that the effects of chlorofluorocarbons could damage the ozone layer in the atmosphere. Primarily chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, halons, and related chemicals. These chemicals were utilised in refrigeration, air conditioning, and as aerosol sprays.

Once these chemicals reach the stratosphere, they are degraded by UV radiation and release chlorine and bromine atoms that destroy the ozone molecule. The thinning of the ozone layer is what is referred to as an ozone hole.

Impact of Ozone Layer Depletion on Daily Life

The depletion of the ozone layer impacts daily life. Increased UV radiation can lead to a variety of problems in the following ways:

Health Effects: Increased incidence of skin cancer, sunburns, and eye maladies such as cataracts.
Environmental Effects: UV radiation causes plant injury, leading to decreased crop yields, and interferes with aquatic ecosystems.
Economic Effects: Losses in agriculture and fisheries due to increased levels of UV radiation may lead to increased financial burdens, mainly if the regional economies depend a lot upon these sectors.
Climate Change: Changes in the patterns of atmospheric circulation owing to ozone depletion could exacerbate climate change.

Global Efforts Towards Ozone Layer Protection: International Conventions and Organizations

The international community has realized that the protection of the ozone layer is one of the priority issues. Hence, various international agreements and organizations have been established with this objective in mind.

Montreal Protocol, 1987: This is one of the most effective agreements concerning the environment. The Montreal Protocol intends to reduce the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances. Due to this treaty, the use of certain harmful chemicals, such as CFCs, was reduced by a large margin, and the ozone layer gradually recovered.

Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (1985): This convention provided a forum for interstate collaboration on ozone protection and formed the foundation upon which the Montreal Protocol was negotiated.

United Nations Environment Programme: UNEP plays a significant role in organising international efforts towards protecting the ozone layer, providing scientific assessments, and supporting policy development.

21 Point Programme: 178 countries to prevent and fix environmental damage and ozone layer depletion. A UN conference, the Bashundhara Conference, was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 3–14 June 1992. A 21-point program was adopted at this conference, known as Agenda 21. The objective was to

• reduce the production and use of Freon gas 
• reduce the growth rate of methane and nitrogen oxides by 2.5% by 2020.

London Conference: The 1989 London Conference revised the Montreal Agreement. It has set limits on harmful gas production. It introduced new restrictions on some gases. The conference decided that developed countries would phase out CFCs, halon gas, and carbon tetrachloride by 2000. Developing countries would do so by 2010.

Beijing Accord: The Beijing Accord in Beijing, China, in 1999 made the production and trade of HCFCs more difficult. All countries must phase out the production and use of bromochloromethane by 2004.

Copenhagen Conference: The 1992 Copenhagen Conference aimed to ban harmful gases to protect the ozone layer. The decisions taken at this conference are—

•  The use of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) will be phased out by developed countries by 2004.
•  The use of methyl bromide should also be gradually reduced.

It offers its services through monitoring the ozone layer and providing relevant data related to the depletion of the ozone layer and its effects on the environment and human health.

Conclusion: Why Protecting the Ozone Layer Matters

The ozone layer is essential for life on Earth, as it protects us against harmful UV radiation from the Sun. It protects ecosystems from being extinguished and health problems related to ultraviolet radiation in humans. Yet, with the protection of the ozone layer, significant improvements were managed, and continuous steps should be made to turn complete recovery into reality. Understanding the importance of the ozone layer and supporting global initiatives, such as the Montreal Protocol, is critical for safeguarding the future of our planet.