In 1985, experts from the British Antarctic Atmospheric Survey reported a completely unexpected fact: the spring ozone content in the atmosphere over Halle Bay Station in Antarctica decreased by 40% from 1977 to 1984.

This was soon confirmed by other researchers, who showed that the region of low ozone goes beyond Antarctica and covers a layer from 12 to 24 km in height, i.e. much of the lower stratosphere. The most detailed study of the ozone layer over Antarctica was the international Airborne Antarctic Ozone Experiment. During the experiment, scientists from four countries went up to the area of low ozone several times and collected detailed information about its size and the chemical processes that vibrate there. In fact, this meant that there was an ozone "hole" in the polar atmosphere. In the early 1980s, according to measurements from the Nimbus-7 satellite, a similar hole was discovered in the Arctic, although it covered a much smaller area and the ozone level drop in it was not the same - about 9%. On average, on Earth from 1979 to 1990, the ozone content decreased by 5%.

A decrease in ozone concentration by 1% leads, on average, to an increase in the intensity of hard ultraviolet near the Earth's surface by 2%. This estimate is confirmed by measurements made in Antarctica (however, due to the low position of the Sun, the ultraviolet intensity in Antarctica is still lower than in the middle latitudes). In its effect on living organisms, hard ultraviolet is similar to ionizing radiation, however, due to its longer wavelength than C-radiation, it is not able to penetrate deep into tissues, and therefore affects only superficial organs. Hard ultraviolet has enough energy to destroy DNA and other organic molecules, cause skin cancer, especially transient malignant melanoma, cataracts and immune deficiency. Naturally, hard ultraviolet light can also cause ordinary skin and cornea burns. There is already a noticeable increase in skin cancer worldwide, but many other factors (for example, the popularity of tanning has increased, and this has led to the fact that people spend more time in the sun, thus receiving a large dose of UV radiation) does not allow us to say unequivocally that this led to a decrease in the ozone content. Hard ultraviolet is poorly absorbed by water and therefore poses a great danger to marine ecosystems. Experiments have shown that plankton living in the near-surface layer, with an increase in the intensity of hard UV, can be seriously damaged and even die completely. Plankton is the basis of the food chains of almost all marine ecosystems, therefore, without decorations, we can say that almost all life in the near-surface layers of the seas and oceans may disappear. Plants are less sensitive to hard UV, but if the dose is increased, they can also be affected. If the ozone content in the atmosphere decreases significantly, humanity will easily find a means of protection from harsh UV radiation, but at the same time risk starving to death. For the first time the idea of the danger of ozone layer destruction was expressed in the late 1960s. It was then believed that the main hazard to atmospheric ozone was water vapor and nitrogen oxide (NOX) emissions from the engines of supersonic transport aircraft and rockets. However, supersonic aviation developed at a much slower pace than expected. Now only the Concorde is used for commercial purposes, making several flights a week between America and Europe, from military aircraft in the stratosphere, practically only supersonic strategic bombers, such as B1-B or Tu-160, and reconnaissance aircraft such as SR-71 fly. Such a load is unlikely to pose a serious threat to the ozone layer. Emissions of nitrogen oxides from the Earth's surface from fossil fuel combustion, mass production and the use of nitrogen fertilizers also pose a certain risk to the ozone layer, but nitrogen oxides are unstable and easily destroyed in the lower atmosphere. Rocket launches are also not very common, but chlorate solid propellants used in modern space systems, such as the Space Shuttle or Ariane solid rocket boosters, can cause serious local damage to the ozone layer in the launch area.

1974 p. M. Molina and F. Rowland of the University of California, Irvine have shown that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) can deplete ozone. Since then, the so-called chlorofluorocarbon problem has become one of the main problems in research on atmospheric pollution. Chlorofluorocarbons have been used for more than 60 years as "refrigerants" in refrigerators and air conditioners, propellant for aerosol mixtures, foaming agents in fire extinguishers, cleaners for electronic devices, in dry cleaning of clothes, and in the production of foam plastics. They were once seen as ideal for practical application chemical substances, because it is very stable and inactive, and therefore non-toxic. Paradoxical as it may seem, it is precisely the inertness of these compounds that makes them dangerous for atmospheric ozone. CFCs do not break down rapidly in the troposphere (the lower layer of the atmosphere, which extends from the Earth's surface to 10 km altitude), as most nitrogen oxides do, and eventually enter the stratosphere, which has an upper limit at about 50 km. When CFC molecules rise to an altitude of about 25 km, where ozone concentration is highest, they are exposed to intense ultraviolet radiation, which does not penetrate to lower altitudes due to the shielding effect of ozone. Ultraviolet destroys normally stable CFC molecules, which break down into highly reactive components, in particular atomic chlorine. Thus, CFCs transport chlorine from the Earth's surface through the troposphere and lower atmosphere, where less inert chlorine compounds are destroyed, into the stratosphere, to the layer with the highest concentration of ozone. It is very important that chlorine acts like a catalyst during the destruction of ozone: its amount does not decrease during the chemical process.

As a result, one chlorine atom can destroy up to 100,000 ozone molecules before it is deactivated or returned to the troposphere. Currently, the release of CFCs into the atmosphere is estimated at millions of tons, but it should be noted that even in the hypothetical case of a complete cessation of the production and use of CFCs, an immediate result will not be achieved: the effect of CFCs that have already entered the atmosphere will last for several decades. The atmospheric lifetimes for two CFCs, Freon-11 (CFC13) and Freon-12 (CF2C12), are believed to be 75 and 100 years, respectively.

Given these arguments, many countries have begun to take action to reduce the production and use of CFCs. Since 1978, the US has banned the use of CFCs in aerosols. Unfortunately, the use of CFCs in other areas has not been restricted. In September 1987, 23 of the world's most developed countries signed a convention in Montreal obliging them to reduce their consumption of CFCs. According to the agreement reached, by 1999 the developed countries should reduce the consumption of CFCs to half the level of 1986. A good substitute for CFCs, propane-butane mixture, has already been found for use as a propellant in aerosols. In terms of physical parameters, it is practically not inferior to freon, but, unlike them, it is flammable. However, such aerosols are already used in many countries around the world. It is more difficult with refrigeration units - the second consumer of freons. The fact is that due to the polarity of the CFC molecules have a high heat of vaporization, and this is very important for the working fluid in refrigerators and air conditioners. The best CFC substitute known today is ammonia, but it is toxic and still inferior to CFCs in terms of physical parameters. Good results have been obtained for fully fluorinated hydrocarbons. In many countries, new substitutes are being developed and good practical results have already been achieved, but this problem has not yet been completely solved.

Among the most dangerous enemies of the atmosphere, in addition to freons, also belongs to the goal of l bromide. This gas is used in agriculture as a plant protection agent. But methyl bromide well destroys not only pests in the soil, but also ozone in the air. And even in the upper layers of the atmosphere.

Instruction

The most dangerous for the ozone layer are freons, which leads to the formation of "ozone holes". Therefore, when buying an air conditioner or, pay attention to what the compressor is on. Freon R-22 has been banned in many countries since 2010, so by purchasing outdated equipment, you obviously harm the atmosphere.

All sorts of sprays and aerosols cause great harm to the ozone layer of the earth. Try to minimize your use chemicals in cans such as deodorants, hairsprays, air fresheners, polishes, etc.

It's no secret that one of the main pollutants is car exhaust. Try to drive less in private vehicles, preferring a public one or, even better, a bicycle. If possible, avoid the car altogether.

Green plantations enrich the air with oxygen and prevent the destruction of the ozone layer. Therefore, plant a tree or several trees near the house, in the garden, in the country. Participate in the gardening of your own city.

Reduce the amount of waste and garbage, because their processing will cause irreparable harm to the atmosphere. Therefore, use environmentally friendly bags, abandoning polyethylene. Give preference to loose, not packaged goods. Choose a product that contains an eco-label. Install a water filter, thus refusing to buy bottled water. Try to distribute or sell old shoes, clothes and other things using special resources, and not send them to a landfill.

Protective layer of the planet

Destruction of the ozone layer

In the 70s, during research, it was noticed that freon gas, which is used in air conditioners, refrigerators, and destroys ozone with great speed. Having risen in the upper layers of the atmosphere, freons emit chlorine, which decomposes ozone into ordinary and atomic oxygen. In the place of such interactions, an ozone hole is formed.

What does the ozone layer protect against?

Ozone holes are ubiquitous, but as many factors change, they are covered by ozone from neighboring layers of the atmosphere. Those, in turn, become even thinner. The ozone layer acts as the only barrier to the destructive ultraviolet and radiation radiation of the sun. Without ozone layer immune

MOU Sukhobezvodnenskaya secondary school

Regional competition of research and design works

"Young Explorer"

Nomination "Applied Ecology"

https://pandia.ru/text/77/498/images/image002_32.jpg" width="1026" height="723">

I. Introduction. “The current state of ecology: causes and prospects for preventing an ecological catastrophe”…………………………………3

II. Main part.

§ 1. How ozone is formed…………………………………………………………4

1. Atmosphere.

2. Atmospheric layers.

§ 2. The protective role of the ozone layer…………………………………………. eight

1. Chemical and biological properties.

2. Conditions for the formation of ozone.

§ 3. Sustainability of the “ozone shield”………………………………………..9

1. What will happen if ozone disappears?

2. Depletion of the ozone layer.

3. The concept of "ozone hole".

§ 4. Causes of the destruction of the "ozone shield"……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

1. The impact of the results of human activity (anthropogenic sources).

2. Natural factors (geological sources).

3. Protection of the ozone layer.

III. Conclusion. “Ways to solve the problem”………………………………………………………………………………………………14

IV. Literature……………………………………………………………………….15

V. Review………………………………………………………………………….16

VI. Abstracts of the report…………………………………………………………………..17

VII. Appendix………………………………………………………………………18

I Introduction

"You can perhaps say that the appointment

of a person, as it were, is to

destroy your kind, having previously done

the globe uninhabitable."

How lamentable the words of Lamarck, but they reflect the modern dangerous intervention of a highly industrialized society in nature. With the advent of human civilization, a new factor appeared that influenced the fate of living nature. Five billion of our contemporaries have the same impact on nature in terms of scale that people of the Stone Age could have if their number were 50 billion people.

The danger of interfering with nature is:

1. The Earth's biosphere is subject to increasing anthropogenic impact.

2. The consumption of non-renewable raw materials is increasing.

3. Arable land is leaving the economy due to the construction of hydroelectric power stations, cities, and factories.

4. Progressive accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere ð increase average annual temperature on the planet.

As a result, society faced a dilemma:

- either soullessly roll towards inevitable death in the impending

ecological disaster;

- or consciously use the mighty forces of science and technology to

protection of nature and man himself.

The threat of an ecological crisis requires continuous environmental education and enlightenment of people. We need to know what has a significant impact on our health:

Dynamics of factors by 2008:

Characterizing the current state of ecology as critical, we can single out the main reasons that lead to an ecological catastrophe:

§ Pollution, poisoning of the environment.

§ Depletion of the atmosphere with oxygen; ozone holes.

The aim of our study is a generalization of literature data on the causal and consequences of the destruction of the ozone layer, which is the "shield" of the Earth, as well as ways to solve the problem of the formation of "ozone holes".

The result of the study This problem is the dissemination of environmental information among students, performance at the scientific society of our school.

II. Main part

§ 1. How ozone is formed

The phrase that has become winged - "The sun shines and warms", contains a description of some of the effects of solar radiation on us. These are: 1) electromagnetic radiation: X-ray, ultraviolet, visible, and 2) solar wind: protons and electrons.

Parts of solar radiation - RG, UV, VI differ from each other in photon energies

When solar radiation affects the atmosphere, photon energy is transferred to atoms and molecules of atmospheric gases. The result of the impact depends on how high the energy of the photon is compared to the energy required for the reaction: dissociation, ionization, nuclear.

1. Atmosphere

The atmosphere is the outer shell of the biosphere, its mass is negligible - only one millionth of the mass of the Earth. However, its role in the natural processes of the biosphere is enormous. The modern gas composition of the atmosphere is the result of a long historical development the globe: a mixture of components: nitrogen - 78.09%, oxygen - 20.95%. Gases: argon - 0.93%, carbon dioxide- 0.03%, inert gases (neon, helium, krypton, xenon), ammonia, methane, ozone, sulfur dioxide, etc. Solid particles - products of combustion, volcanic activity, soil particles, cosmic dust. Water vapor, products of plant, animal and microbial origin. Highest value for various ecosystems have three gases: oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

2. Atmospheric layers

Atmospheric layers are the result of the impact of solar radiation on the atmosphere.

a) The ionosphere is the upper layer of the atmosphere, from 50-809 km to 1000 km, characterized by a significant content of atmospheric ions and free electrons. The reason for the existence of the ionosphere is the decomposition into ions and electrons (ionization) of atmospheric gas molecules under the action of RG and UV.

b) Stratospheric ozone layer - a layer at a height of 10-15 km, characterized by an increased concentration of ozone. Ozone is formed when oxygen absorbs UV radiation.

Part of the diatomic oxygen molecules decomposes into atoms:

O2 + h gð O + O, which attach to the remaining molecules:

O + O2 ðO3 and a triatomic ozone molecule is formed.

At the same time, the reverse process of converting ozone into oxygen occurs:

O + O3 ð 2O2; O3 + h gð O2 + O. Therefore, the average ozone concentration remains constant for a long time.

c) Troposphere - the layer near the Earth's surface is characterized by an increased concentration of ozone. The main reason for the formation of ozone is the breakdown into atoms of gas molecules formed during the combustion of fuel, followed by the formation of ozone under the influence of visible radiation, during a lightning discharge. Tropospheric ozone is characterized by the term "bad" ozone, since ozone in large quantities is harmful to breathing. Ozone oxides are involved in the formation of ozone in the troposphere:

NO2 + h gð NO + O (400 km)

CH4 is the most typical and main by mass organic pollutant of the atmosphere. The oxidation of CH4 under the action of OH proceeds in conjunction with the oxidation of NO. As a result, the oxidation reaction of CH4 in the presence of NO as a catalyst and under the influence of sunlight with a wavelength of 300-400 nm will be written in the form

CH4 +4O2 ðCH2O+H2O+2O3

That is, the oxidation of methane and other organic substances leads to the formation of tropospheric ozone. The rate of this process depends on the concentration of NO, the anthropogenic release of which doubles the surface concentration of O3, and the increase in CH4 leakage further increases O3.

Drinking water" href="/text/category/voda_pitmzevaya/" rel="bookmark">drinking water is based on its ability to kill microbes.

A long stay in an atmosphere containing ozone (physiotherapy room, quartz treatment) can cause severe disorders of the nervous system. Therefore, ozone in large doses is a toxic gas ( allowable dose in the working room - 0.0001 mg / liter).

2. Conditions for the formation of ozone

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 process of formation and decomposition of ozone is called the Champen cycle. The result of the processes in the cycle is the conversion of solar energy into heat. The ozone cycle is responsible for the rise in temperature at an altitude of 15 km.

In the layer below 15 km, ozone is brought in from the overlying layers during air mixing. An increase in the ozone content with height has practically no effect on the proportion of nitrogen and oxygen, since, in comparison with them, there is very little ozone in the upper layers. If it were possible to concentrate all atmospheric ozone under normal pressure, it would form a layer only 3 mm thick, although its total amount is 3 billion tons.

Ozone absorbs part of the Sun's UV radiation: moreover, its wide absorption band (wavelength 200 - 300 nm) includes radiation that is harmful to all life on Earth. This protective property of ozone was already studied at the beginning of the 20th century, in the 1950s, when scientists were actively studying the atmosphere.

It was found that ozone itself is a climate-forming factor. Because it warms up the stratosphere, which is the "lid of the boiler" in which the weather "cooks". If there is little ozone, the "lid rises" and the climate changes. There is another function of the ozone layer: to transmit weak cosmic influences - the solar "wind", changes magnetic field etc. - through ozone to the Earth. All this affects the climate.

§ 3. Sustainability of the "ozone shield"

Scientists have found that the planet's defense system is very "delicate and fragile." Moreover, the restoration of the ozone layer is extremely slow. It is vulnerable to natural impacts and anthropogenic factors.

1. If ozone disappears

The radiation, which is delayed by ozone, will reach the Earth. And humanity would receive a large dose of radiation. Irreparable damage would also be done to the environment. UV radiation is harmful to plankton, fry, shrimp living on the surface of the ocean. Even plastic is damaged by UV radiation. According to doctors, every percent of ozone lost on a global scale causes up to 150,000 additional cases of blindness due to cataracts, and a 2.6 percent increase in the number of skin cancers (melanoma).

The number of diseases caused by the weakening of the human immune system is increasing significantly.

Since ozone, by absorbing solar radiation, raises the temperature of those layers of the atmosphere in which it is located, its disappearance will lead to a decrease in the temperature of the atmosphere. The disappearance of ozone will exacerbate the problem of "pollution" of the solar spectrum with harsh UV rays that are harmful to all living things.

2. Depletion of the ozone layer

V last years scientists are increasingly concerned about the depletion of the "ozone shield".

https://pandia.ru/text/77/498/images/image008_20.jpg" align="left" width="288 height=215" height="215">This area extends beyond Antarctica and at a height covers the layer from 12 to 24 km, that is, a significant part of the lower stratosphere.In fact, this meant that there was an "ozone hole" in the polar atmosphere.

In the early 1980s, a similar hole was discovered in the Arctic, although it covered a smaller area, and the drop in ozone levels is small - 9%.

This discovery worried scientists, because it showed that the Earth's protective ozone was in great danger.

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.

3. The concept of the ozone hole

First of all, it should be clear that the ozone hole is not a hole in the atmosphere.

In 1985, British scientists at the South Pole discovered that atmospheric ozone levels were below normal during the Antarctic spring. Every year at the same time, the amount of ozone decreases to varying degrees.

Similar but less pronounced ozone holes also appeared over the North Pole during the Arctic spring.

Scientists have figured out why the ozone hole appears. During the long polar night, a sharp drop in temperature occurs and high stratospheric clouds form, containing ice crystals.

Their appearance causes a series of complex chemical reactions leading to the accumulation of molecular chlorine.

In spring, under the action of the Sun's UV, 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:

Cl + O3 ðClO + O2 and ClO + O ðCl + O2

Moreover, the original chlorine atoms remain in a free state and again participate in this process: one chlorine molecule destroys a million ozone molecules. Therefore, ozone begins to disappear from the atmosphere over Antarctica, forming an ozone hole.

§ 4. Causes of the destruction of the ozone layer

Different points of view on the origin of "ozone holes" suggest that the reasons for their occurrence are not fully understood.

1. The results of human activity

There are many reasons for the weakening of the ozone shield.

1. These are launches of space rockets. Burning fuel "burns out" in the ozone layer big holes. It was assumed that they were tightened, but it turned out not.

2. Aircraft, flying at an altitude of 12–15 km. The steam and other substances emitted by them destroy ozone. But at the same time, planes flying below 12 km give an increase in ozone.

3. nitrogen oxides. They are thrown out by planes, but most of all they are released from the soil surface, especially when nitrogen fertilizers decompose.

4. Chlorine and its compounds. Up to 700 thousand tons of this gas enters the atmosphere primarily from the decomposition of freons (chlorofluorocarbons or hydrocarbons in which hydrogen atoms are replaced by fluorine and chlorine).

Freons- these are not entering into any chemical reactions gases that boil at room temperature and therefore increase their volume dramatically, making them good nebulizers.

When expanding, the temperature of freons decreases, so they are widely used in refrigerators and air conditioners. Aerosol cans, as a means of dry cleaning, extinguishing fires, in transport, as foam concentrates - the world production of these substances has reached almost 1.5 million tons.

Being highly volatile and fairly resistant to chemical attack, freons enter the atmosphere after use and can stay there for up to 75 years, reaching the height of the ozone layer. Here, under the influence of sunlight, they decompose, releasing atomic chlorine, which serves as the "destroyer" of ozone. One chlorine atom is capable of converting 100,000 ozone molecules into oxygen, and the chlorine itself is not destroyed.

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

Ozone depletion potential of some substances

If the air conditioner is running, it does not destroy ozone. But when contaminated freon is released during repairs, it will enter the atmosphere - this is called secondary pollution. 85% of all freon is in aerosol packages, 15% in refrigerators and air conditioners. The use of freons is such that 95% of them enter the atmosphere 1–2 years after production. This 5.27 million tons + 7.75 million tons in 1981 must sooner or later enter the stratosphere and be included in the ozone destruction cycle.

2. Natural factors of ozone depletion

Scientists believe that strong volcanic eruptions affect the decrease in ozone. In 1982, in Mexico, a strong eruption of the El Chichon volcano caused a 10% drop in ozone in the Northern Hemisphere.

In 1992, one of the most powerful eruption of the Pinatubo volcano in the 20th century occurred in the Philippines. The ejected ash fell over a large area, and its smallest particles formed a huge cloud that encircled the entire globe along the equator. In its central part, there was little ozone, and along the edges - a lot of sulfur dioxide, of which more than 20 million tons were ejected during the eruption.

The ash cloud of Mount Pinatubo, like that of Krakatau in 1883, led to a slight decrease in temperature, as the ash particles form a screen that blocks sunlight.

The presence of chlorine compounds in high concentrations and other "unuseful" gases in the atmosphere was recorded from space satellites.

Studies have shown the presence of freons in air samples over the Masaya volcano, in air bubbles of Antarctic ice 2000 years old, in water extracted in 1982 from a depth of 4000 meters in the equatorial part Atlantic Ocean, at the bottom of the Aleutian depression and at a depth of 4500 m off the coast of Antarctica. These facts testify to the geological source of the destruction of the ozone layer.

It has been found that the chemical reactions that destroy ozone occur on the surface of ice crystals and any other particles trapped in the high stratospheric layers above the polar regions. These volcanic particles make chlorine more effective in destroying ozone.

3. Protection of the ozone layer

September 16 - Day for the Protection of the Ozone Layer. On this day in 1985, advanced countries, concerned about the depletion of the ozone layer, adopted the Vienna Convention for its Protection.

Without action under the Vienna Convention on Environmental Protection and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, by 2050 ozone depletion would have reached 50% in mid-latitudes and 70% in northern latitudes, according to researchers. This is about ten times worse than the current state.

Rare case! These are the only environmental agreements where all countries were united, despite the fact that the problem is not so obvious to non-specialists. However, just recently in Montreal, 200 countries, almost all members of the UN, which is unprecedented, signed an amendment to the Montreal Protocol to speed up the process of phasing out ozone-hazardous substances. By the way, in this matter, the United States, where 25% of all freons were produced in the world, was in the “one team” along with everyone else.

III. Conclusion: Ways to solve the problem

§ In order to start a global recovery, it is necessary to reduce the access to the atmosphere of all substances that destroy ozone very quickly and are stored there for a long time.

§ All people should understand and help nature turn on the process of restoring the ozone layer. We need new plantations of forests, stop cutting down forests for other countries that for some reason do not want to cut down their own, but make money from our forests.

§ To restore the ozone layer, you need to feed it. The Russian consortium Interozone proposes to produce ozone directly in the atmosphere. It is planned to raise balloons with infrared lasers to a height of 15 km to produce ozone from diatomic oxygen. In the future, it is planned to use space platforms with energy sources and lasers at an altitude of 400 km, the rays of which will be directed to the center of the ozone layer and will constantly feed it. Whether the grandiose project will come true, only time will tell.

§ Taking into account the urgency of the situation, it is necessary to expand experimental studies on the conservation of the ozone layer.

IV. Literature

1., "Ecology".

- Bustard, 1995.

2. "Organic substances of the atmosphere". Sarov Educational Journal, 1998, No. 4.

3. Countries and peoples: Earth and humanity. Global problems.

M.: Thought, 1982

4. " Environment and man."

5. Popular scientific site http:/ www. .

6. Internet magazine www. .

7. Newsletter of the Nizhny Novgorod regional branch

nuclear society. Issues from #29 1991 according to No.

V. Review

This project work is devoted to the topical issue of the conservation of the ozone layer. Since ozone in the atmosphere is in an unstable state and its concentration is subject to significant fluctuations (mostly to a decrease), research in this area is very relevant and timely.

After analyzing extensive material on the state of ozone in the atmosphere, young researchers came to an unexpected conclusion: the life of any person, even a child, affects the state of ozone, and every person should know this and not try to harm himself. Since by destroying his "ozone shield", a person will destroy himself.

The work is interesting not only because of the urgency of the problem of preserving the ozone layer, but the integrative nature of the research allows us to explore the issues raised as much as possible. One study combined academic subjects both natural science and ethical.

VI. Abstracts

§ With the emergence of human civilization, a new factor appeared that influenced the fate of living nature. Five billion of our contemporaries have the same impact on nature that Stone Age people of 50 billion people could have had.

§ In a number of regions of Russia, the following dynamics of factors affecting human health is assumed: the role of ecology is up to 40%, the genetic factor is up to 30%, the ability to maintain health through lifestyle is reduced to 25%, the role of medicine is reduced to 5%.

§ The purpose of this work is to summarize the literature data on the causes and consequences of the destruction of the ozone layer, as well as ways to solve the problem of the formation of "ozone holes".

§ Ozone is an allotropic modification of oxygen. Character chemical bonds in ozone causes its instability, after a certain time ozone passes into oxygen 2O3 ð3O2.

§ Ozone is formed in the atmosphere under the action of the Sun's UV from an oxygen molecule. The ozone layer begins at altitudes of about 8 km above the poles and extends up to 50 km. Most of the ozone is in the 5 km layer at an altitude of 20 to 25 km.

§ In summer and spring, ozone concentration increases. It is always higher over the polar regions than over the equatorial ones. It changes in an 11-year cycle, coinciding with the cycle solar activity. There is a steady decline in stratospheric ozone. This phenomenon is called the "ozone hole".

§ Oxidative effect of ozone on organic matter associated with the formation of radicals RH + O3 ðRO2 + OH, which initiate chain reactions with bioorganic molecules, which leads to cell death.

§ Ozone is not indifferent to higher organisms. Prolonged stay in physiotherapy and quartz irradiation rooms causes severe violation nervous system. So allowable concentration it in the air - 0.0001 mg / liter.

§ Ozone absorbs part of the Sun's UV (wavelength 200-300 nm), and includes radiation that is harmful to all life on Earth.

§ Anthropogenic sources that affect the depletion of the ozone layer are concentrated in cities: industry, road transport. As a result, 95% of the used freons are released into the stratosphere within 1-2 years, which are included in the catalytic cycle of ozone destruction.

§ To overcome the danger of ozone layer depletion, concerted action by all developed countries is required to develop new industrial and transport technologies that are safe for the ozone layer.

Life on our planet began to develop rapidly only after the ozone layer formed in the stratosphere, protecting it from the harmful effects of too high levels of sunlight. The fight to restore this life-sustaining system is far from over. Of the three elements surrounding man - the firmament, water and air - the last one is the most vulnerable. And it is no coincidence that the first real distress signal appeared in the atmosphere. This signal is the ozone hole as a herald of a possible global decrease in the protective ozone layer as a result of anthropogenic pollution. Interest in ozone increased significantly after its prevalence in the earth's atmosphere and the special role it plays in protecting all living things from the effects of dangerous ultraviolet radiation became clear.

Ozone is a gaseous substance with a characteristic odor, consisting of three oxygen atoms forming a molecule. The ozone layer is the area of its greatest accumulation in the atmosphere, which falls on the stratospheric zone. Here, the rates of ozone production and destruction are balanced, and the concentration of ozone is more or less constant, except in those cases when non-ordinary natural processes, most often associated with human activity, influence. Life on Earth arose only because an ozone screen appeared in the stratosphere, which absorbs up to 99% of the short-wave ultraviolet radiation coming from the Sun. If all the sun's rays, falling on the Earth, reached its surface, then plants and animals would simply fry, as in a giant frying pan. Less than one percent of ultraviolet is available to us, which, however, causes many problems for the body: painful sunburn, skin cancer, vision problems, such as the development of cataracts.

Various reasons lead to the depletion of the ozone layer. Among them are natural ones, such as volcanic eruptions. It is known, for example, that in this case emissions of gases containing sulfur compounds occur, which react with other gases in the air, forming sulfates that destroy the ozone layer. However, anthropogenic impacts exert a much greater influence on stratospheric ozone; human activity. And she is diverse. Use in economic activity compounds such as CFCs, methyl bromide, halons, ozone depleting solvents also deplete the ozone layer. Recently, the influence of aviation and space rockets has also begun to be taken into account. Nitrous oxide emitted by supersonic aircraft also affects stratospheric ozone. The reduced concentration of ozone no longer absorbs the ultraviolet rays of the sun so well, which begin to penetrate the surface of the Earth and inhibit the life processes of all life on Earth. That is, these are the very “ozone holes” that are being written and talked about so much now.

The Treaty for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, which protects all life on Earth from lethal doses of ultraviolet radiation, has taken a leading place in the history of international environmental agreements. Montreal Protocol: The first global environmental agreement to achieve universal ratification and worldwide participation by 196 countries. By the end of 2009, activities carried out under the Montreal Protocol resulted in the phase-out of 98% of substances that deplete the ozone layer. Another important achievement of the Montreal Protocol is that in the near future countries were to stop the production and consumption of chlorofluorocarbons, halons, carbon tetrachloride and other hydrogenated compounds that deplete the ozone layer. All these substances are combined under a single name - ozone-depleting substances. Without the Montreal Protocol and the Vienna Convention, ODS atmospheric levels would have risen 10-fold by 2050, resulting in 20 million skin cancers and 130 million eye cataracts, not to mention damage to the human immune system, fauna and agriculture. Even with swift and decisive action by governments under the Montreal Protocol, the full restoration of the Earth's protective layer will take another 40-50 years.

Specially for the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer

Photo italianestro/Shutterstock.com

The thin ozone layer, which is located in the upper atmosphere, is the determining factor for the existence of life on our planet. Its function is extremely important - to delay ultraviolet radiation coming from the Sun. Without this protective layer, radiation levels would be so high that no living organism could survive.

The planet is in danger

It will not be news to anyone that reckless human activity has led to significant depletion of the ozone layer. For the first time, this problem was discussed in the 80s of the last century, and today we are faced with its grave consequences. It is with the weakening of the protective layer that doctors attribute the increase in the incidence of skin cancer and cataracts. Also, large doses of ultraviolet radiation do not have the best effect on our immunity and other body systems.

We will not continue to scare you with global climate change, which, by the way, is also a consequence of the destruction of the ozone layer, but rather talk about what each of us can do to save our planet.

5 ways to save the ozone layer

There are many simple ways protect the ozone layer. Here are some of them.

Try to use aerosols less often or buy new generation sprays that say "does not destroy the ozone layer" (or Ozone friendly). This label guarantees that the product does not contain chlorofluorocarbons, which destroy the ozone layer above our planet.

Stop using your own car for at least one day, and to travel around the city, use public transport or a bicycle.

Make it a goal to plant at least one tree a year. Trees, flowers and other vegetation not only decorate our lives, but also perform many important functions: they produce the oxygen necessary for life, absorb dust and harmful emissions, regulate temperature, etc.

When buying a refrigerator, air conditioner and other household appliances, choose energy-saving models. Moreover, all of the listed equipment must be fully operational. Otherwise, these useful household appliances may cause refrigerant to leak into the atmosphere.

Pay attention to which fire extinguisher you have hanging at work or at home. If possible, avoid using fire extinguishers containing halogenated hydrocarbons. Environmentally friendly alternative: carbon dioxide or air-foam fire extinguishers.

What will you do to save the ozone layer on Earth? Tell us in the comments!

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