10 surprising facts about the Ozone layer
image credit - L Hong To Rtai
Guardian of Life: The ozone layer, a region of the Earth's stratosphere, protects us from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation by absorbing 97-99% of the Sun's dangerous UV-B and UV-C rays.
image credit - L Hong To Rtai
Ozone Formation: Ozone is formed naturally when oxygen molecules (O2) are split by high-energy UV radiation.
image credit - L Hong To Rtai
Ozone Hole Mystery: In the 1980s, scientists discovered a thinning of the ozone layer over Antarctica, known as the "ozone hole." This was caused by human-made chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
image credit - L Hong To Rtai
International Response: The discovery of the ozone hole prompted the signing of the Montreal Protocol in 1987.
image credit - L Hong To Rtai
Healing Progress: Due to the Montreal Protocol's effectiveness, the ozone hole is slowly recovering, and it is expected to fully heal by the mid-21st century
image credit - L Hong To Rtai
Air Travel Impact: The ozone layer plays a crucial role in air travel safety. Without it, the increased UV radiation at higher altitudes would pose a greater risk to both passengers and crew.
image credit - L Hong To Rtai
Ozone and Climate Change: While the ozone layer primarily protects us from UV radiation, it also has implications for climate change.
image credit - L Hong To Rtai
Ozone's Impact on Ecosystems: Ozone depletion has far-reaching effects on ecosystems. It can harm phytoplankton
image credit - L Hong To Rtai
Space Ozone: Ozone isn't just a phenomenon on Earth; it exists in the atmospheres of other planets
image credit - L Hong To Rtai
Ozone and Human Health: Beyond protecting us from UV radiation, the ozone layer also influences air quality.
image credit - L Hong To Rtai