Ozone layer, the layer for life
Ignoring the condition of the ozone layer and the problem of holes in it is actually inviting death. Without ozone we will not be able to survive.
What is ozone?
Ozone is the transparent layer around the planet that absorbs the sun's dangerous radioactive rays and prevents them from reaching the earth.
Ultraviolet radiation from the sun combines with oxygen to form ozone in a photochemical reaction that acts as a filter in the upper atmosphere and prevents harmful rays from reaching the earth.
Overall, this is a great arrangement, but some humans have cracked it.
The Earth's upper atmosphere has seen a significant decline in ozone levels since the late 1970s, largely due to the use of ozone-depleting pesticides in common materials, such as industrial solvents, aerosol spray propellant and foam blowing. agents etc.
When such a substance enters the atmosphere, it produces a chemical called photo desossiation, which converts ozone back into oxygen.
This is not a new scientific discovery. Experiments in this regard began in the 1970s and finally convinced the UN experts to sign the Montreal Protocol in 1987. ۔
The agreement was intended to reduce the use of items that were causing ozone depletion, with some positive effects.
The rate of ozone depletion has slowed down and the process of restoring the ozone layer to its pre-1980s level from 2050 to 2070 is now underway. It is a long process but steps have been taken in the right direction.
But suppose we can't do anything about it,what happens.
What happens if the ozone layer is destroyed?
If ozone had not been restored and this layer had been depleted, it would have had an impact on our planet.
First of all, our planet would not be green.
Ultraviolet rays play an important role in photosynthesis of plants and many other factors such as gene regulation and cell exention.
However, prolonged exposure to these rays on plants is detrimental to their DNA, membranes and growth.
Plants are usually protected from the harmful effects of these rays through photo receptors, but in the absence of the ozone layer, these rays will fall on plants in full force and they will not be able to survive.
Thus the destruction of ordinary crops will not only affect the supply of food but also reduce the amount of oxygen in the air,and the food chain will suffer.
On the one hand, herbivores will be deprived of food, and on the other hand, other animals will start fighting for meat.
When plant-eaters die, their bodies will begin to decompose rapidly under the intensity of sunlight, and thus it will become even more difficult to provide food for carnivores. Then an unpleasant odor will spread.
Our fate will not be any different, whoever comes out of his shelter, the harmful rays of the sun will also start burning him. And then blisters will start appearing on the body.
There will be small pus-filled sores all over the body which will be foul smelling and very painful. After that we will suffer from sun burn sickness. This is also possible if we are standing in the sun for a long time. Our muscles and bones rot all over the skin.
In these circumstances, for our survival, it will be necessary for us to cover ourselves from head to toe in a protective shell when going out of the house.
By living in underground bunkers we will be able to prolong our lives, during which time we will have to store food and water. Not only that, we will have to make alternative arrangements for oxygen tanks or oxygen supply as a result of changes in the Earth's atmosphere, the air is no longer able to breathe, so it may be possible to make such arrangements, but only for those who have already made arrangements for these emergencies،and there will be a closed lifestyle that will not only be difficult but impossible to maintain for a long time.
Even when the ozone layer is working properly, sitting in sunlight for long periods of time is considered harmful.If the ozone layer were removed,sun light would reach the earth at its full potential and cancer would engulf people faster and more brutally. Similarly, blindness will emerge as a terrible problem. Therefore, it is clear that without ozone, the Earth's environment would not be conducive to the survival of life.
Now an important question is what will be the fate of the earth. It will definitely face this situation and will not be burnt and annihilated, but it will definitely go through some dramatic changes.
The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will increase and the oceans will emit large amounts of water vapor. Today, about 50% of the artificially created carbon dioxide is absorbed by floating plants and animals.But when these aquatic and terrestrial swamps and trees are gone, the absorption of carbon dioxide will stop.
Accumulation of carbon dioxide will increase the earth's temperature. The water will boil and the earth will be like a venus-like planet with 97% carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, causing the surface temperature to reach 87 degrees Fahrenheit.
From this we can estimate how important the ozone layer is.
Thanks for reading.
Stay safe and healthy.
All images are free and taken from pixabay.