Ozone depletion causes global warming Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Ozone depletion causes global warming - Essay Example In line with that, it would help in the discussion if the ozone layer and global warming are both defined. Ozone is made up of three atoms of oxygen which is poisonous when people inhale it especially at high concentration. It is unlike the air human beings need which is made up of two atoms of oxygen. People may get sick especially the disease called asthma when ozone is formed near the surface of the earth. It is very useful once it is formed in the atmosphere because it serves as a blanket of protection from solar radiation. Ozone layer is considered as a sub-layer in the atmosphere which has an altitude of 10 to 35 kilometers. The mechanism on how the ozone is formed is by the exposure of oxygen in the atmosphere to the ultraviolet rays from the sun and as ozone is formed, the harmful UV radiation is absorbed. High concentration of ozone in the atmosphere is very much needed by the earth because the higher the concentration of zone, the less UV radiation can reach the surface of the earth. Once ozone is not able to do its job, people are then exposed to higher concentration of UV radiation that may cause sunburn, skin cancers and eye cataracts as more UV rays can penetrate the atmosphere (Shanklin 84). It is noteworthy to remember that ozone layer is a very important component of the atmosphere and the big protector of people and other organisms against the direct exposure to the harmful radiation from the sun. A more detailed explanation regarding the ozone layer would be better in explaining the importance of its existence. Further discussion is about the exact location of ozone layer and the problems it faces as it is being depleted. Ozone layer is a sub-layer of the stratosphere and located at about 15 kilometres above sea level. Even though the ozone present in the atmosphere is not as abundant as oxygen and nitrogen, it is still very important due to its ability to absorb the radiation. A study was made by Crutzen in 1970 about the nitrogen oxides pro duced from the decay of nitrous oxide through the soil microbial activities. The study showed how nitrogen oxides react quickly with ozone that allowed the concentration reduction of available ozone. The study opened the grounds on  further research regarding "global biogeo-chemical cycles" and the nitrogen oxides coming from the airplanes as they travel on the stratosphere (Lipkin 262). Harmful radiation increases as ozone layer is being reduced. The depletion may have both advantages and disadvantages to living things especially to human beings. In the past 60 years, awareness became more prevalent towards the consequences of exposure to radiation. Recent studies proved that the eye and the skin are the two of the body organs that are most prawn to damages and diseases due to UV radiation. Cataract is the usual effect of UV radiation to the eyes while skin cancer is the common result on skin (Norval et. al. 199). The other concept that must be talked about is global warming. The increase in the average surface temperature of the earth is said to be global warming. It happens because of the greenhouse effect that increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and other gases like water vapor, methane, chlorofluorocarbons and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere that cover the surface of the earth and prevents the UV radiation to escape to the outer space. The radiation increases the heat on the surface of the earth that leads to the global increase in temperature. Human activities contribute to the