Tag: causes of resource depletion

Chlorofluorocarbons are the compounds which are used as coolants in the air conditioning systems, refrigerators, coolers, etc. The CFCs, when released into the atmosphere, react with UV rays to form chlorine atoms which destroy the ozone layer and results in the thinning out of the ozone layer also known as the ozone hole.

The ozone layer is present in the stratosphere above the Earth. The layer of ozone is responsible for the absorption of the harmful ultraviolet radiations from the solar radiations. Due to ozone depletion, these radiations enter the Earth's atmosphere and cause skin cancer. The radiations can also damage the eye and other exposed parts of the body. The radiations can also cause mutations like thymine dimer formation or breaking of the hydrogen bonds. 

Chlorofluorocarbon compounds are released from automobiles, refrigerators, etc. These compounds cause an increase in atmospheric temperature causing global warming.

The presence of CFCs in the atmosphere results in the depletion of the ozone layer. They are used as coolants in refrigerators, coolers, etc. The CFCs causes the breaking of the ozone molecule which forms the oxygen radical and O$ _2$. The depletion of the ozone layer results in the penetration of the harmful UV radiations from the sun into the Earth's atmosphere. 

Ozone is an inorganic molecule formed by the three molecules of oxygen with the chemical formula O$ _3$. It is a pale blue gas with a distinctively pungent smell. It is an allotrope of oxygen that is much less stable than the diatomic allotrope O$ _2$ and more reactive molecule.

When oxygen molecules absorb ultraviolet photons and undergo photolysis, ozone is obtained
$3O _2 \xrightarrow [photolysis]{UV : light} 2O _3$.

Ozone shields the surface of the earth from ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Ozone layer reduces the chances of skin cancer.

40 to 50% depletion in ozone layer occurs in the South polar region.
Ozone is destroyed by collisions with other atoms and molecules.
The large scale destruction of the stratospheric ozone first came into focus in 1987 through the experiments in antarctica.

Depletion of ozone layer is mainly due to Chloroflorocarbons.
Note:
The following describes the destruction of the ozone by chlorofluorocarbons.
Chlorofluorocarbons contains the chlorine molecule which reacts with ozone (O$ _3$) molecule and splits into O$ _2$ and O molecules.
Chlorofluorocarbons are used in refrigerators, air conditioners and aerosol sprays. They damage the ozone layer of the atmosphere.

Destruction of ozone can cause skin cancer, cataract and can hinder growth of plant. Ozone prevents the harmful radiations from reaching the surface of earth. The UV radiation has enough energy to cause adverse effects on all life systems, especially humans. It can destroy parts of DNA molecules that stores and propagate genetic information from one generation to another generation.