On July 10, 1976, a terrible disaster occurred in the small Italian town of Seveso. As a result of an accident at a local chemical plant for the production of trichlorophenol, a huge poisonous cloud containing more than 2 kg escaped into the air. Dioxins are among the most toxic substances on earth. (This amount of dioxins can kill more than 100,000 people). The cause of the accident was a failure in the production process, the pressure and temperature in the reactor rose sharply, the explosion-proof valve worked, and a lethal gas leaked. The leak lasted two or three minutes, the resulting white cloud began to spread with the wind to the southeast and stretched over the city. Then it began to descend and cover the ground in mist. The smallest particles of chemicals fell from the sky like snow, and the air was filled with an acrid chlorine-like smell. Thousands of people were seized by bouts of coughing, nausea, severe pain in the eyes and headache. The plant management considered that there was only a small release of trichlorophenol, which is a million times less toxic than dioxins (no one imagined that they could be contained there).
Plant managers provided a detailed report on the incident only by 12 July. Meanwhile, all this time, unsuspecting people continued to eat vegetables and fruits, as it turned out later, from the area contaminated with dioxins.

The tragic consequences of what happened began to manifest themselves in full measure from July 14. Hundreds of people who received serious poisoning ended up in hospitals. The skin of the victims was covered with eczema, scars and burns, they suffered from vomiting and severe headaches. Pregnant women have experienced an extremely high miscarriage rate. And doctors, relying on information from the company, treated patients for poisoning with trichlorophenol, which is a million times less toxic than dioxins. A mass death of animals began. They received lethal doses of the poison much faster than humans, due to the fact that they drank rainwater and ate grass, which contained high doses of dioxins. On the same day, a meeting of the mayors of the cities of Seveso and nearby Meda was held, at which a plan of priority actions was adopted. The next day, it was decided to burn all the trees, as well as the fruits and vegetables harvested in the contaminated area.

Only after 5 days chemical laboratory in Switzerland, it was found that a large amount of dioxins was released into the atmosphere as a result of a leak. All local doctors were informed about the contamination of the area with dioxins, and a ban was imposed on eating food from the contaminated region.
On July 24, the evacuation of residents from the most contaminated territories began. This area was fenced off with barbed wire and police cordons were set up around it. After that, people in protective overalls entered there to destroy the remaining animals and plants. All vegetation in the most polluted area was burned, in addition to the 25,000 dead animals, another 60,000 were killed. In these areas, a healthy existence of a person is still impossible.

Scientists from the University of Milan conducted a study to study the incidence of cancer in the population of settlements adjacent to the city of Seveso.
More than 36,000 people were under observation, and they had a significantly higher frequency of oncological diseases than the norm. From 1976 to 1986, about 500 people died from cancer in the disaster area. In 1977, 39 cases of congenital deformities were recorded there, which is significantly more than before the disaster.

The largest Hungarian industrial and environmental disaster that occurred on October 4, 2010 at an aluminum plant (Ajkai Timfoldgyar Zrt) near the city of Aika (150 km. to Budapest). An explosion occurred at the plant, destroying the platform that held back the toxic waste container. The result was a leak of 1,100,000 cubic meters of highly alkaline red mud. The territories of the regions of Vash, Veszprem and Gyor-Moson-Sopron were flooded. It is known about 10 victims of the accident (another one is considered missing), in total, more than 140 people received chemical burns and injuries due to the accident. Most of the local flora and fauna died. Toxic waste has entered many local rivers, significantly affecting their ecosystems.

Chronology of events:

October 4 at 12.25 - the destruction of the dam. Leakage of 1.1 million cubic meters of pesticide - red mud.

October 7 - the norm of alkali content in the Danube was exceeded (according to the Hungarian Water Resources Control Service). A threat is created to the entire ecosystem of the Danube.

October 9 - the beginning of the evacuation of the population of the affected city of Kolontar due to the threat of a re-spill of sludge.

October 12 - a decision was made to nationalize the company that owns the plant. All victims will receive compensation. According to monitoring data, the amount of toxic substances in the soil is decreasing today, although their level still remains at a dangerous level.

Perhaps the most important environmental problem of the Nile River is the overpopulation of the countries located on the river. The life of the population of these countries is completely dependent on the Nile. Every year the needs of people are growing. The river provides the people with water and electricity. Many wars in the old days were fought over oil, but in today's world, they can be fought over water. It is the Nile, the great river of the world, which has passed the history of mankind through its streams, that will be at the epicenter of the conflict.

Fresh running water has always fueled life on our planet, but now its value is higher than ever. It is estimated that over the next 20 years, the amount of water available to each person will be reduced by a factor of three. It's about about Egypt. Since Egypt is downstream, relative to Ethiopia, the question rational use water resources of the Nile, is of a conflict nature. The situation is extremely serious and Egypt has already declared the possibility of war, referring to Ethiopia.

The Nile in Egypt almost all the time flows through the desert, apart from the narrow strips of green irrigated lands bordering on both banks with the river, the entire territory of the country is homeless desert. In the fight for survival in this desert, the river plays key role.

Giant dams were built upstream of the Nile in order to meet the needs of electricity, but they also began to delay the flow of the river and ruined the lives of the Egyptian peasants. This country used to have some of the best soil in the world, but the construction of dams has disrupted the process of silt deposition that naturally enriched this land for many thousands of years. Now the fields bring an extremely meager harvest.

Direct result modern methods dam construction - has become a decline Agriculture in Egypt for the first time in history. Peasants are forced to abandon the way of life that has supported the nation for many thousands of years. As the river approaches the southernmost point of the Egyptian border, it becomes hard not to notice that this people is rapidly modernizing and that tourism is replacing agriculture as the mainstay of the Egyptian economy, while the old way of life is gradually becoming a thing of the past.

The construction of a giant dam in Ethiopia can solve many of the problems of the population of this poor country, including providing full electricity. With a positive outcome of this project, it is planned to build several more dams, which in turn will reduce the flow of water resources, located downstream of Egypt, by about half.

Undoubtedly, every country wants to use the priceless wealth of the Nile to the maximum. If a compromise is not found, the further fate of the Nile will be sad. Be that as it may, the river acquired such a specific environmental problem due to population growth, its modernization and increased needs.

Recently, newspapers and magazines are full of articles about the role of the ozone layer, in which people are intimidated by possible problems in the future. From scientists you can hear about the upcoming climate changes, which will negatively affect all life on Earth. Will a potential danger far from people really turn out to be such horrific events for all earthlings? What are the consequences of the destruction of the ozone layer for humanity?

The formation process and significance of the ozone layer

Ozone is a derivative of oxygen. While in the stratosphere, oxygen molecules are exposed to chemical attack ultraviolet radiation, after which they break up into free atoms, which, in turn, have the ability to combine with other molecules. With such an interaction of oxygen molecules and atoms with third bodies, a new substance is formed - this is how ozone is formed.

Being in the stratosphere, it affects the thermal regime of the Earth and the health of its population. As a planetary "guardian" ozone absorbs excess ultraviolet radiation. However, when it enters the lower atmosphere in large quantities, it becomes quite dangerous for the human species.

An unfortunate discovery of scientists - the ozone hole over Antarctica

The process of destruction of the ozone layer has been the subject of many discussions among scientists around the world since the late 1960s. In those years, environmentalists began to raise the problem of emissions of combustion products into the atmosphere in the form of water vapor and nitrogen oxides, which produced jet engines rockets and airliners. There has been concern about the ozone-destroying property of nitric oxide emitted by aircraft at 25 km altitude, which is the formation area of ​​the earth's shield. In 1985, the British Antarctic Survey recorded a 40% decrease in atmospheric ozone over their base at Halley Bay.

After British scientists, this problem was covered by many other researchers. They managed to delineate an area with a low ozone content already beyond southern mainland. Because of this, the problem of the formation of ozone holes began to rise. Shortly thereafter, another ozone hole was discovered, now in the Arctic. However, it was smaller in size, with an ozone leakage of up to 9%.

According to the results of research, scientists have calculated that in 1979-1990 the concentration of this gas in the earth's atmosphere decreased by about 5%.

Destruction of the ozone layer: the appearance of ozone holes

The thickness of the ozone layer can be 3-4 mm, its maximum values ​​are at the poles, and the minimums are located along the equator. The largest concentration of gas can be found at 25 kilometers in the stratosphere over the Arctic. Dense layers sometimes occur at altitudes up to 70 km, usually in the tropics. The troposphere does not have a large amount of ozone, as it is more susceptible to seasonal changes and pollution of a different nature.

As soon as the gas concentration decreases by one percent, there is an increase in the intensity of ultraviolet light above the earth's surface by 2%. The influence of ultraviolet rays on planetary organics is compared with ionizing radiation.

The depletion of the ozone layer can cause disasters that will be associated with excessive heating, increased wind speeds and air circulation, which can lead to the emergence of new desert areas and reduce agricultural yields.

Encounter with ozone in everyday life

Sometimes after rain, especially in summer, the air becomes unusually fresh, pleasant, and people say that it “smells like ozone”. This is not figurative at all. In reality, some degree of ozone passes to the lower layers of the atmosphere with air mass flows. This type of gas is considered the so-called useful ozone, which brings a feeling of extraordinary freshness to the atmosphere. Basically, such phenomena are observed after thunderstorms.

However, there is also a very harmful, extremely dangerous variety of ozone for people. It is produced by exhaust gases and industrial emissions, and when it comes under the influence of the rays of the Sun, it enters into photochemical reaction. As a result, the so-called ground-level ozone is formed, which is extremely harmful to human health.

Substances that destroy the ozone layer: the action of freons

Scientists have proven that freons, which are massively charged with refrigerators and air conditioners, as well as numerous aerosol cans, cause the destruction of the ozone layer. Thus, it turns out that almost every person has a hand in the destruction of the ozone layer.

The causes of ozone holes are that freon molecules react with ozone molecules. Solar radiation forces freons to release chlorine. As a result, ozone splits, resulting in the formation of atomic and ordinary oxygen. In places where such interactions occur, the problem of ozone depletion occurs, and ozone holes occur.

Of course, industrial emissions bring the greatest harm to the ozone layer, but the domestic use of drugs that contain freon, one way or another, also has an impact on the destruction of ozone.

Ozone layer protection

After it was documented by scientists that the ozone layer is still being destroyed and ozone holes appear, politicians began to think about its preservation. There have been consultations and meetings around the world on these issues. They were attended by representatives of all states with a well-developed industry.

So, in 1985, the Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer was adopted. This document was signed by representatives from forty-four states participating in the conference. A year later, another important document was signed, called the Montreal Protocol. In accordance with its provisions, there should have been a significant reduction in the world production and consumption of substances that lead to the violation of the ozone layer.

However, some states were unwilling to comply with such restrictions. Then, for each state, specific quotas for hazardous emissions into the atmosphere were determined.

Protection of the ozone layer in Russia

In accordance with the current Russian legislation, the legal protection of the ozone layer is one of the most important and priority areas. Legislation related to protection environment, a list of protective measures aimed at protecting this natural object from various kinds of damage, pollution, destruction and depletion is regulated. Thus, Article 56 of the Legislation describes some activities related to the protection of the planet's ozone layer:

• Organizations for monitoring the effect of the ozone hole;
• Permanent control over climate change;
• Strict observance of the regulatory framework for harmful emissions into the atmosphere;
• Production regulation chemical compounds which destroy the ozone layer;
• Application of penalties and penalties for violation of the law.

Possible solutions and first results

You should know that ozone holes are a fickle phenomenon. With a reduction in the number harmful emissions ozone holes begin to gradually draw into the atmosphere - ozone molecules from neighboring areas are activated. However, in this case, another risk factor arises - neighboring areas are deprived of a significant amount of ozone, the layers become thinner.

Scientists around the world continue to research and intimidate with bleak conclusions. They calculated that if the presence of ozone decreased by only 1% in the upper atmosphere, then there would be an increase in skin cancers up to 3-6%. Moreover, a large amount of ultraviolet rays will adversely affect the immune system of people. They will become more vulnerable to a wide variety of infections.

It is possible that this can actually explain the fact that the number of malignant tumors is increasing in the 21st century. Increasing the level of ultraviolet radiation also negatively affects nature. There is a destruction of cells in plants, the process of mutation begins, as a result of which less oxygen is produced.

Will humanity cope with the upcoming challenges?

According to the latest statistical data, humanity is facing a global catastrophe. However, science also has optimistic reports. After the adoption of the Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, all mankind has already taken up the problem of saving the ozone layer. Following the development of a number of prohibitive and precautionary measures, the situation was somewhat stabilized. Thus, some researchers argue that if all of humanity is engaged in industrial production within reasonable limits, the problem of ozone holes can be successfully solved.

If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.

Many inhabitants of the planet know about the ozone layer of the Earth only that a huge hole has appeared in it, and this threatens with a universal catastrophe. Every now and then articles appear in newspapers and magazines where people are frightened by potential problems. Scientists are talking about the coming climate change, which will negatively affect all life on Earth. Is it really? Is it worth worrying now, and are scientists not exaggerating the magnitude of the coming disaster? Is the destruction of the ozone layer threatening us in the near future, and how can this affect the climate? Let's try to figure everything out.

Where is located

So, for starters, let's figure out what ozone is and what role it plays in nature. Above the Earth's surface, at an altitude of seven to nineteen kilometers, the atmosphere consists of a layer of ozone. It is a special form of oxygen. Moreover, at the poles it is located lower - at an altitude of 7-8 kilometers, and at the equator - much higher, at a distance of 17-18 kilometers from earth's surface. Thus, it is distributed very unevenly.

If we analyze ozone from the point of view of chemical reactions, we get the following picture. Due to the strong action of the ultraviolet radiation of the Sun, the oxygen molecule that makes up the air shell of the earth has attached a third oxygen atom to itself. This is how ozone came about.

important purpose

It is worth noting that a large amount of ozone in the atmosphere is a huge plus for our Earth. The more it is, the better it absorbs ultraviolet rays. Actually, this is its main purpose. However, do not think that the ozone layer of the atmosphere is a thick pillow that reliably shelters the Earth from the hot rays of the Sun.

No. The ozone layer is very, very thin. So that you can visually imagine its scale, you can give an example. We take an area of ​​45 square kilometers. If all the ozone available in the Earth's atmosphere is evenly distributed over it, then its thickness will be ... only 0.3 cm. This seems incredible! How has such a thin protective “cloak” protected mankind from the hot sun for many millennia? However, it is.

Given the importance of the ozone layer and its relatively small amount, every effort must be made to keep the protection intact. After all, to destroy it - a lot of mind is not needed, but it is almost impossible to restore it.

Smells like ozone

Sometimes after rain, especially summer, the air becomes especially fresh, pleasant, and people say: "It smells like ozone." This is by no means a figurative expression. Indeed, a certain amount of ozone partially penetrates into the lower layers of the atmosphere with the currents of the upper air. This is the so-called useful ozone. It also gives the atmosphere an unusual freshness. Often this phenomenon can be observed after thunderstorms.

But there is also a very harmful, extremely dangerous ozone for humans. Exhaust gases and industrial emissions, falling under the action of sunlight, enter into a photochemical reaction. As a result, the so-called ground-level ozone is formed. It is very harmful to human health. Most often, such ozone is found in megacities and major cities. It is extremely dangerous to breathe such air, since this gas adversely affects the bronchi and lungs and destroys them. If a person inhales such air, he may experience asthma attacks, chest pains, heart attacks, dizziness.

Not only people suffer from such a bad ecological situation, but also plants along the roads. But on high altitude The importance of the ozone layer cannot be overestimated. If it weren't for it, humanity would have already burned out from ultraviolet radiation.

A hole the size of a mainland

The ozone layer of the earth was discovered by scientists in the 70s of the twentieth century. At the same time, physicists determined its value and described it in scientific papers. But just a decade and a half later, researchers faced the global problem of the ozone layer. British scientists in 1985 made a discovery that frightened the whole world and forced to take a different look at the development of modern industry.

Over Antarctica, researchers have discovered a huge "hole". The ozone layer over this continent was completely absent. Moreover, the hole was terrifying in size - the size of the United States.

It was experimentally found that in the atmosphere above the coldest continent of the Earth, compounds are present in large quantities, which are formed during the interaction of ozone and chlorine. Thus, the theory that chlorine destroys ozone was confirmed.

Dangerous freons

Scientists have proven that freons, which are massively used in refrigerators and air conditioners, as well as in numerous aerosol cans, adversely affect the ozone layer. It just seems to us that we sprayed our hair with varnish, and nothing terrible happened. But imagine that such micro-emissions are carried out per day by millions of consumers! Now the scale is looming as each of us destroys the ozone layer!

The reasons for the destruction are that freon molecules interact with ozone molecules. Solar radiation causes freons to release chlorine. It splits ozone, resulting in the formation of atomic and ordinary oxygen. In the place where this interaction occurs, the ozone layer completely disappears.

Of course, industrial emissions bring the greatest harm to the ozone layer. But the household use of drugs that contain freon, one way or another, also has an impact on the destruction of ozone.

Protective measures

After scientists documented that the ozone layer was being destroyed, politicians began to think about how to save it. After all, this is important not for a single country, but for all of humanity as a whole. A series of consultations and meetings on this issue took place around the world, in which representatives of all countries where industry is developed took part.

In 1985, the Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer was adopted. It was signed by representatives of 44 states. A year later, another important document was signed - the Montreal Protocol. According to its provisions, the production and consumption of substances that destroy ozone were significantly limited in the world.

Some tried to oppose these prohibitions. But for each country, clear quotas for hazardous industries were determined, which cannot be exceeded. After all, the fate of all mankind is at stake.

Protection of the ozone layer in Russia

In our country, this problem is also given great attention. According to current legislation Russian Federation The ozone layer is one of the important natural objects. It is subject to legal protection. The Law “On the Protection of the Environment” (Article 4) regulates protective measures aimed at protecting this natural object from damage, pollution, destruction and depletion.
Article 56 of the Law describes measures to protect the Earth's ozone layer. Among them:

• organization of observation of this natural object;
• constant monitoring of climate change, which occurs under the influence of the activities of economic entities or due to other processes;
• strict observance of standards for the emission of harmful substances into the atmosphere;
• regulation of production chemical substances which destroy the ozone layer;
• application of penalties and penalties for violation of the above requirements.

There are several international organizations and inspectorates that carefully monitor how measures are being taken to protect the ozone layer in different countries ah world.

Wandering hole

If we assume that the ozone hole will continue to expand constantly, and this is quite possible, then humanity is threatened with death. And this is not an exaggeration. Therefore, the preservation of the ozone layer is of great importance today in all countries.

It is worth noting that the ozone hole is unstable. As soon as the amount of harmful emissions into the atmosphere is reduced, the ozone hole begins to gradually tighten. Ozone molecules penetrate into it from those parts of the atmosphere that are located nearby. But there is another risk factor here. On the neighboring plots As a result, the amount of ozone is significantly reduced. The layer becomes thinner.

Risk factors

Meanwhile, scientists continue to conduct research and scare us with disappointing conclusions. They came to this conclusion. If the amount of ozone decreases by only one percent in the upper atmosphere, then, for example, an increase in skin cancer will occur by 3-6%. In addition, ultraviolet rays in large quantities adversely affect the human immune system. He becomes more vulnerable to infectious diseases. Perhaps this explains the fact that more and more people suffer from malignant tumors in the 21st century.

Increased ultraviolet also negatively affects nature. It destroys plant cells, they begin to mutate and produce less oxygen. And although the ozone layer is high and we do not feel it, its importance for nature can hardly be overestimated.

Affects wind, rainfall and temperature

According to scientists, the thinning of the ozone layer directly affects the climate of our planet. Have you noticed that every year the weather becomes more and more changeable?

The ozone layer is not only an "umbrella" for ultraviolet radiation, but also a kind of cover for the Earth. It traps heat that dissipates from the surface of our planet. The thinner the ozone layer, the faster the warm air at the Earth's surface cools. As the researchers note, the air temperature on the planet is gradually, year after year, decreasing. This contributes to a change in the direction of the prevailing winds. The weather becomes extremely changeable.

scary numbers

Here are some more dry statistics that hint at the coming disaster. From 1979 to the present day, there has been a decrease in the annual ozone content by about 4-5 percent. And in the middle latitudes of the planet, this figure is even higher - the ozone layer has become 7 percent smaller.

And if earlier scientists discovered the ozone hole only over Antarctica, today other places have appeared on the map where this protective layer is not observed. Experts have identified several smaller holes over the Arctic and adjacent regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

But there are also optimistic reports. After humanity became concerned about the problem of the preservation of the ozone layer and a number of protective and prohibitive measures were developed, the situation somewhat stabilized. So we can safely say that we, if we behave reasonably, can solve this problem.

The major ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) are:

• - chlorofluorocarbons (CFC, international designation CFC - chlorofluorocarbon), such as fluorotrichloromethane CFC13 (CFC-11, or CFC-11), difluorodichloromethane CF2C12 (CFC-12, or CPC-12), etc .;
• - fluorochlorobromocarbons, otherwise known as halons, such as difluorochlorobromomethane CF2ClBr (halon-1211) and trifluorobromomethane CF3Br (halon-1301);
• - hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC, international designation - HCFC), in which not all hydrogen atoms are replaced by halogens (for example, difluorochloromethane CHC1F2);
• - methyl bromide CH3Br, methyl chloroform CH3CC13 (MCF) and carbon tetrachloride CC14 (CHC).

Of these substances, CFCs and halons are the main contributors to ozone depletion.

Let's give brief description these substances, we will name the areas of their application. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) have other names: chlorofluoromethanes, freons, freons. They are relatively chemically inert (non-reactive), non-flammable, low toxic, easy to manufacture and store, very volatile, practically insoluble in water and highly soluble in organic solvents. Moreover, being gases at room temperature, they liquefy at low pressure with the release of heat, and when evaporating, they absorb it again and cool. Due to these properties, CFCs are widely used in engineering.

• - CFCs were originally used as refrigerants in refrigerators and air conditioners. As these products break down and are discarded at the end of their life, the CFCs they contain are released into the atmosphere.
• - Another area of ​​application - CFCs as propellants (sprayers) in aerosol packages for various purposes.
• - The next most important area of ​​their application is the production of porous plastics (foam plastics). CFCs are dissolved in liquid plastics at elevated pressure (they are highly soluble in organic substances). When the pressure is reduced, they foam the plastic, as their solubility decreases, and in doing so, they escape into the atmosphere.

Halons already in the mid-1940s. began to be used as an effective means of fire extinguishing. Halon-1301 is still widely used by the fire departments of many countries.

In Russia, by the end of the 20th century, the following structure of the use of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) by sectors of consumption associated with industrial production had developed:

• 1 - aerosol packages - 46%;
• 2 - refrigeration equipment (domestic, commercial and industrial) and air conditioners - 27%;
• 3- fire extinguishing means - 14%;
• 4 - foam plastics - 11%;
• 5- solvents - 2%.

How do these substances spread in the atmosphere and destroy the ozone layer?

The high chemical stability of freons and their poor solubility in water (they are not washed out by rain) allow these substances to rise high in the atmosphere. Once near the surface of the Earth, freons freely pass the troposphere, i.e., the first 10-15 km of airspace, and end up in the stratosphere, where 90% of atmospheric ozone is concentrated. The path to the stratosphere is indirect, since freons, like all other compounds, can enter the stratosphere from the Earth's surface only with tropical convective currents. Substances are transferred to the tropics for about a month. Movement up the troposphere to a height of 10-15 km due to convection takes several days, sometimes several hours. But to be at an altitude of 35 km, substances require 15 years. It follows that only such substances can have an impact on the ozone layer, the lifetime of which in the atmosphere exceeds several tens of years. Freons are such substances. Their life span is 50 years or more. Rowland and Molina estimate that CFCs take 50 to 100 years to accumulate in the stratosphere.

So, once again we will dwell on the environmental consequences of the destruction of the ozone layer, which protects all life on Earth from the harsh ultraviolet radiation of the Sun. The protective role of the ozone layer is explained by the fact that ozone absorbs short-wave solar UV radiation in exactly the same wavelength range as the molecules of living cells. As a result, biohazardous UV radiation is absorbed in the atmosphere without reaching the Earth's surface.

A decrease in ozone allows more UV rays to reach the Earth's surface, which is harmful to living organisms. Consider the possible environmental consequences of the destruction of the ozone layer. The loss of ozone in the stratosphere with its simultaneous increase in the troposphere can lead to climate change. The destruction of ozone causes a decrease in temperature in the stratosphere and a warming of the troposphere, as more and more UV rays penetrate it. Recall also that O 3 is a greenhouse gas and its formation in the troposphere occurs when it is polluted with nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons, which leads to an increase in temperature. In addition, chlorofluorocarbons, being greenhouse gases, also absorb infrared radiation and thereby participate in the creation of the greenhouse effect. Thus, the redistribution of ozone between the troposphere and stratosphere will be accompanied by climate change.

Increased UV exposure has a detrimental effect on human health. There is a lot of evidence linking sunlight to skin cancer. It is known that even with a small increase in the dose of UV radiation, a person has burns on the skin. Solar radiation also contributes to skin aging. Increased UV exposure causes an increase in the incidence of skin cancer. Over the last decade of the XX century. the frequency of such diseases among residents of the United States and Europe has increased several times. This is due not only to an increase in the share of UV exposure, but also to a change in the lifestyle of people who began to spend more time in the sun.

Ozone is a type of oxygen found in the stratosphere, approximately 12-50 kilometers from the earth. The highest concentration of this substance is at a distance of approximately 23 kilometers from the surface. Ozone was discovered in 1873 by the German scientist Schönbein. Subsequently, this modification of oxygen was found in the surface and upper layers of the atmosphere. In general, ozone consists of triatomic oxygen molecules. Under normal conditions, it is a blue gas with a characteristic aroma. Under various factors, ozone turns into an indigo-colored liquid. When it becomes solid, it acquires a dark blue hue.

The value of the ozone layer lies in the fact that it acts as a kind of filter, absorbing a certain amount of ultraviolet rays. It protects the biosphere and people from direct solar radiation.

Causes of ozone depletion

For many centuries, people did not suspect the existence of ozone, but their activity adversely affected the state of the atmosphere. AT this moment scientists talk about such a problem as ozone holes. Depletion of oxygen modification occurs for a variety of reasons:

• launching rockets and satellites into space;
• operation of air transport at an altitude of 12-16 kilometers;
• freon emissions into the air.

Major depleters of the ozone layer

The biggest enemies of the oxygen modification layer are hydrogen compounds and chlorine. This is due to the decomposition of freons, which are used as atomizers. At a certain temperature, they are able to boil and increase in volume, which is important for the manufacture of various aerosols. Quite often, freons are used for freezing equipment, refrigerators and cooling units. When freons rise into the air, chlorine is split off under atmospheric conditions, which in turn converts ozone into oxygen.

The problem of ozone depletion was discovered long ago, but by the 1980s, scientists sounded the alarm. If ozone is significantly reduced in the atmosphere, the earth will lose its normal temperature regime and stop cooling. As a result, a huge number of documents and agreements were signed in various countries in order to reduce the production of freons. In addition, a replacement for freon was invented - propane-butane. According to its technical parameters, this substance has high performance, it can be used where freons are used.

Today, the problem of ozone depletion is very relevant. Despite this, the use of technologies using freons continues. At the moment, people are thinking about how to reduce the amount of freon emissions, are looking for substitutes to save and restore the ozone layer.

Fighting methods

Since 1985, measures have been taken to protect the ozone layer. The first step was the introduction of restrictions on the emission of freons. Further, the government approved the Vienna Convention, the provisions of which were aimed at protecting the ozone layer and consisted of the following points:

• representatives of different countries adopted an agreement on cooperation regarding the study of processes and substances that affect the ozone layer and provoke its changes;
• systematic monitoring of the state of the ozone layer;
• creation of technologies and unique substances that help minimize damage;
• cooperation in various areas of development of measures and their application, as well as the control of activities that provoke the appearance of ozone holes;
• transfer of technology and acquired knowledge.

Over the past decades, protocols have been signed, according to which the production of fluorochlorocarbons should be reduced, and in some cases completely stopped.

The most problematic was the use of ozone-friendly products in the production of refrigeration equipment. During this period, a real "freon crisis" began. In addition, developments required significant financial investments, which could not but upset entrepreneurs. Fortunately, a solution was found and manufacturers instead of freons began to use other substances in aerosols (hydrocarbon propellant such as butane or propane). Today, the use of installations capable of using endothermic chemical reactions absorbing heat.

It is also possible to purify the atmosphere from the content of freons (according to physicists) with the help of a nuclear power plant, the power of which should be at least 10 GW. This design will serve as an excellent source of energy. After all, it is known that the Sun is capable of producing about 5-6 tons of ozone in just one second. By increasing this figure with the help of power units, it is possible to achieve a balance between the destruction and production of ozone.

Many scientists consider it expedient to create an "ozone factory" that will improve the condition of the ozone layer.

In addition to this project, there are many others, including the production of ozone artificially in the stratosphere or the production of ozone in the atmosphere. The main drawback of all ideas and proposals is their high price. Large financial losses push projects into the background and some of them remain unrealized.

Five-minute video on protecting the ozone layer