Ozone Layer and its Depletion
Ozone and Ozone Layer
There are three different forms of oxygen in the atmosphere. Ozone is an inorganic oxygen molecule
made up of three oxygen atoms. It has the chemical formula O3. The name comes from the Greek word
ozein, which means “to smell.”
Formation of ozone in the atmosphere
There are natural processes which create and destroy ozone
in the atmosphere. Ozone is created primarily by sunlight.
Formation of Ozone
● When high-energy ultraviolet rays (UV-C) strike an
oxygen molecule (O2), they split the molecule into two
single oxygen atoms, known as atomic oxygen.
● A freed oxygen atom then combines with another
oxygen molecule to form a molecule of ozone (O3).
This process is known as photolysis.
● Significance of the process:
o There is so much oxygen in the atmosphere that the “ozone-oxygen cycle” is
continuously absorbing high-energy ultraviolet radiation (UV-C). This blocks the harmful
UV rays from reaching the Earth’s surface.
o The process creates heat which warms the upper part of the stratosphere.
Destruction of Ozone
● Ozone is naturally broken down in the stratosphere by sunlight.
● Ozone gets destroyed when it reacts with molecules containing nitrogen, hydrogen, chlorine, or
bromine.
Ozone Layer
The ozone layer is the common term for the high concentration of ozone that is found in the
stratosphere around 15–30km above the earth’s surface. The region is also referred to as the
“ozonosphere”.
● In an unpolluted atmosphere, there is balance between ozone created and destroyed.
Consequently, the total concentration of ozone in the stratosphere remains relatively constant
● The amount of ozone concentration in the stratosphere varies according to altitude.
● It is highest in between 19 and 23 km.
● Most of the ozone in the stratosphere is formed over the equator. It is transported by winds
towards higher latitudes.
● Under normal circumstances highest ozone values are found over the Canadian Arctic and
Siberia. The lowest is found near the Equator.
● Weather conditions also causes daily variations in ozone concentration.
Good Ozone V.S. Bad Ozone
About 10% of the ozone in the atmosphere is found in the troposphere; while the rest is found in the
stratosphere. Depending upon where the ozone is found, it can be good or bad.
Good ozone:
● It is the stratospheric ozone.
● It acts as a shield to protect Earth’s surface from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation. The
stratospheric ozone is often termed as “Earth’s sunscreen.”
Bad Zone:
● It is the tropospheric ozone. It is also known as ground-level/ surface-level ozone.
● It is harmful and one of the chief air pollutants. It is the main component of smog.
● It is not emitted directly into the air, but is created by chemical reactions between oxides of
nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC).
Ozone Depletion
Ozone depletion occurs when the natural balance between the production and destruction of
stratospheric ozone gets disturbed.
Brief Historical Background
● 1974: Scientists Sherwood Rowland and Mario Molina for the first-time warned that human-
generated CFCs are harming the ozone layer.
● 1977: The World Plan of Action on the Ozone Layer was adopted by the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) Governing Council. It called for intensive international research
and monitoring of the ozone layer.
● 1985: British Antarctic Survey scientists reported on the recurring springtime ozone hole over
Antarctica.
Did you know?
In 1994, the Nobel Prize for Chemistry was awarded to Sherwood Rowland, Mario Molina and Paul
Crutzen for their pioneering work in atmospheric chemistry, particularly concerning the formation
and decomposition of ozone.
Ozone Depleting substances
Ozone depleting substances are gases that destroy ozone when they reach the ozone layer.
● They generally contain chlorine, fluorine, bromine, carbon, and hydrogen in varying proportions.
● They are often referred to as halocarbons.
Name Uses
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) As coolants in refrigerators and air conditioners,
As solvents in degreasers and cleaners
Also used to dilute sterilant gas mixtures,
In production of foams
Hydrochlorofluorocarbons Used as a replacement of CFCs; mainly used as refrigerants
Halons Used in fire extinguishers
Carbon Tetrachloride Used as raw material for CFCs.
Also used in fire extinguishers, as a dry-cleaning agent,
Also, as an ingredient in pesticides, pharmaceuticals, paints and
solvents.
Methyl Bromide Used as a Fumigant
Methyl Chloroform solvent in cleaners, degreasers and adhesives.
Bromochloromethane Used in Fire extinguishers
Mechanism of Ozone Destruction
● Ozone depleting substances reach the stratosphere.
● These chemicals are broken down by the high energy solar UV radiation.
● They release extremely reactive chlorine and bromine atoms.
● These undergo a complex series of catalytic reactions leading to destruction of ozone.
The Antarctic Ozone Hole
Ozone hole is not actually a hole where there is no ozone present. It is a region of exceptionally depleted
ozone in the stratosphere over the Antarctic that happens at the beginning of Southern Hemisphere
spring (August–October).
● It is termed ozone hole when total ozone is 220 Dobson Units or lower.
● The rapid depletion of ozone over Antarctica is mainly linked to the unique meteorological
conditions — temperature, pressure, wind speed and direction — that prevail over Antarctica.
Impact of Ozone Hole Depletion
● On Human Health
o Sunburns, premature ageing of the skin.
o Increase in melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers
o Increase in cataracts leading to damage to the eye vision resulting in blindness
o Weakening of the human immune system
● On agriculture and forestry
o Many agricultural crops like are rice, wheat, soybean, corn, sweet corn, barley, oats,
cowpeas, peas, carrots, etc. are sensitive to the UV-B radiation of the Sun. Increase in UV
radiation hinders physiological and developmental processes of plants.
o Number of commercially important trees have UV-B radiation sensitivity.
● Impact on Marine Life
o Increased UVB radiation threatens the survival of phytoplankton.
o UVB radiation also cause damage to early developmental stages of fish, shrimp, crab,
amphibians, and other marine animals.
● Impact on Biogeochemical Cycles
o Increase in UVB radiation could affect terrestrial and aquatic biogeochemical cycles.
This will in turn alter both sources and sinks of greenhouse and chemically important
trace gases
● Impact on Materials
o Various materials such as synthetic polymers are adversely affected by UVB radiation.
The Ozone Depleting Gas Index (ODGI)
● It was developed by the scientists of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) in 1990s.
● It tracks the overall stratospheric concentration of ozone-depleting chlorine and bromine
from long-lived ozone-depleting substances (ODS) relative to its peak concentration in the
early 1990s.
● Separate ODGI values are reported for mid-latitudes and for Antarctica.
● According to the ODGI 2022, concentration of ozone-depleting substances in the atmosphere
has reduced significantly.
The Ozone Treaties
Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer
Background: It was signed in 1985 and came into force in 1988.
Membership: It has been ratified by 198 states (including India).
Key Features
● Aim: To protect human health and the environment against the adverse effects of human-
induced modifications of the ozone layer.
● It established global monitoring and reporting on ozone depletion.
● It promotes research activities, cooperation and the exchange of information between states.
● It asks states to take appropriate measures to prevent activities that harm the ozone layer.
● It is not binding and does not provide any legally binding goals for states to phase out CFCs.
Montreal Protocol
Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is a multilateral environmental
agreement for protecting stratospheric ozone. It regulates the production and consumption of nearly
100 man-made ozone-depleting substances.
● Background: It was agreed upon in 1987 and entered into force in 1989.
● Membership: It has been ratified by 198 states. Both Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocol
are first universally ratified treaties in United Nations history.
Key Features
● The Protocol seeks to phase-down the consumption and production of the different ODS in a
step-wise manner.
● The Parties to the protocol are provided different timetables for phasing out ODS. The different
timetables are based on whether it’s a developed or a developing country.
● Responsibilities of Parties: Responsibilities are related to phasing out of the different groups of
ODS, control of ODS trade, annual reporting of data, national licensing systems to control ODS
imports and exports.
● Nature of Commitments: Developing and developed countries have equal but differentiated
responsibilities. Both the group of countries have binding, time-targeted and measurable
commitments.
● Assistance: The Parties are assisted by the Ozone Secretariat. It is based at UN Environment
Programme headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.
Amendments
The Montreal Protocol has undergone 6 amendments:
● London Amendment (1990)
o It required the complete phase-out of CFCs, halons, and carbon tetrachloride by 2000 in
developed countries, and by 2010 in developing countries.
o Methyl chloroform was also added to the list of controlled substances, with phase-out in
developed countries targeted in 2005 and in 2015 for developing countries.
● Copenhagen Amendment (1992)
o It significantly accelerated the phaseout of ODSs and incorporated an
hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) phaseout for developed countries, beginning in 2004.
o CFCs, halons, carbon tetrachloride, and methyl chloroform were targeted for complete
phaseout in 1996 in developed countries.
o Consumption of methyl bromide was capped at 1991 levels
● Montreal Amendment (1997): It included the phase-out of HCFCs in developing countries. It
also included phase-out of methyl bromide in developed and developing countries in 2005 and
2015, respectively.
● Beijing Amendment (1999): It included Bromochloromethane for immediate phase out; it also
introduced production controls on HCFCs as well as controls on trade with non-Parties.
● Kigali Amendment (2016): Under the agreement, the Parties committed to phase down 80-85
per cent production and consumption of Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by the late 2040s.
Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol (MLF)
● It is a financial mechanism created in 1990 by the London Amendment.
● It aims to help developing countries meet the agreed incremental cost of fulfilling the
Montreal Protocol measures.
Success:
Scientists from NASA and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that the
Antarctic ozone hole is shrinking. In the end of 2022, it spanned an average area of 23.2 million square
kilometers.
International Ozone Day
● 16 September every year is celebrated as International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone
Layer, commemorating the date when the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the
Ozone Layer was signed in 1987
● World Ozone Day 2022 theme: 'Global Cooperation to protect Life on Earth'.
● Organizing Body: UN
India’s Efforts to Address Ozone Depletion
India and Montreal Protocol
● India became a party to the Vienna Convention in 1991 and Montreal Protocol in 1992.
● Ozone Cell: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has
established an Ozone Cell as a National Ozone Unit (NOU). It aims to provide necessary services
for effective implementation of the Montreal Protocol in India.
● Empowered Steering Committee (ESC): It oversees the implementation of the Montreal
Protocol provisions, review of policies and implementation of projects/plans and monitoring.
Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules,
2000
The Rules regulate the production, consumption, export and import of ODSs.
● The Rules prohibit use of CFCs except for MDIs and for other medical purposes and use of halons
except for servicing.
● It mandates compulsory registration of ODS producers, manufacturers of ODS based products,
importers, exporters, stockists and sellers
● The Rules have been amended from time-to-time in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2014 and
2019.
India Cooling Action Plan
● Background: India is the first country in world to develop a Cooling Action Plan. It was launched
in 2019.
● Aim: To provide sustainable cooling and thermal comfort for all while securing environmental
and socio-economic benefits for the society.
o It aims to provide a 20- year perspective plan and policy recommendations, to address
the cooling requirement across various sectors.
● Key Targets
o Reduce cooling demand across sectors by 20% to 25% by 2037-38,
o Reduce refrigerant demand by 25% to 30% by 2037-38,
o Reduce cooling energy requirements by 25% to 40% by 2037-38,
o Recognize “cooling and related areas” as a thrust area of research under national S&T
Programme
o Training and certification of 100,000 servicing sector technicians by 2022-23, synergizing
with Skill India Mission.
PYQs
Ques. Consider the following:
1. Carbon monoxide
2. Methane
3. Ozone
4. Sulphur dioxide
Which of the above are released into the atmosphere due to the burning of crop/biomass residue?
(2019)
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: D
Ques. Which one of the following is associated with the issue of control and phasing out of the use of ozone-
depleting substances? (2015)
(a) Bretton Woods Conference
(b) Montreal Protocol
(c) Kyoto Protocol
(d) Nagoya Protocol
Answer: B