Depletion of the Ozone Layer

• Causes
• 80% depleting – Chlorofluorocarbons
• Used in industrial solvents and cooling devices made before 1995
• Halons
• Used in some fire extinguishers
• Do more damage than CFCs
• Methyl Chloroform
• Used in industry in aerosols, adhesives, and chemical processing
• Carbon Tetrachloride
• Used in solvents and some fire extinguishers
• Hydrofluorocarbons
• The less harmful alternative to chlorofluorocarbons, but still damaging
• Also considered a greenhouse gas
• Effects
• More ultraviolet radiation from the Sun is able to reach the Earth due to the depleted ozone layer
• Plants have limited abilities to adapt to higher levels of UV radiation can change the plant’s natural cycles (eg. timing of developmental stages)
• Due to complications, plants could die and reduce the number of carbon sinks available
• Due to increased levels of UV radiation, there have been a reported 6-12% reduction of the populations of phytoplankton near the poles
• Reduced populations of phytoplankton is detrimental to a marine ecosystem, as it supports the entire food webs

Image depicting the hole in the ozone layer