There is actually a thin layer of ozone in the stratosphere, which is about 20-50 kilometres above the Earth, and it acts like a shield, or a giant sunscreen, filtering out some of the harmful UV lights from the sun. Without ozone, the harmful radiation would reach the Earth's surface and there would be a drastic increase in people suffering from skin cancer, genetic mutations and eye damage, being it cataracts forming in the eye. It can also destroy marine life.
Scientists have discovered that the depletion of this majestic ozone layer is caused by chlorofluorocarbons or CFC for short, and they are compounds consisting of chlorine, carbon and fluorine. They were widely used as propellants for aerosols and as coolants in refrigerators and air-conditioners. They were also used in the manufacturing of packing foams.
In recent decades. large amounts of them are released into the atmosphere, and in the presence of sunlight, be decompose to form chlorine atoms. They react with ozone molecules in the stratosphere to form chlorine oxide and oxygen, thus destroying the ozone layer, and diffused through the air towards our world. If we don't stop the usage of these great tools of destruction, the world would cease as we know it and cause great catastrophe to mankind.
No comments:
Post a Comment