Lecture 12: Ozone Hole and Ozone Depletion

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on the lecture about the ozone hole and ozone depletion.

Ozone

A molecule made of three oxygen atoms (O₃) found primarily in the stratosphere.

Stratosphere

The atmospheric layer located between 10-50 km above Earth's surface that contains the ozone layer.

Ozone Hole

A region of significantly reduced ozone concentrations, discovered in the early 1980s, primarily over Antarctica.

UV Radiation

Invisible electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than violet light (10-400 nm).

CFCs

Chlorofluorocarbons, invented in the 1920s, used in refrigerants and known for depleting ozone.

Photosynthesis Inhibition

The process by which UV radiation prevents the ability of plants to convert light into energy.

Photolysis

The process where ultraviolet light breaks down molecules, such as oxygen (O₂) into atomic oxygen.

Ozone Equilibrium

The natural balance of ozone formation and destruction in the atmosphere.

Tropospheric Ozone

Ozone found at ground level, often referred to as 'bad ozone', associated with air pollution.

Ozone Formation

The process by which ozone is created, both naturally through UV light and from air pollution.

Stratospheric Ice Clouds

Clouds formed in the stratosphere that provide conditions for chlorine to accumulate, leading to ozone depletion.

Montreal Protocol

An international treaty signed in 1987 aimed at phasing out substances that deplete the ozone layer.

Ozone Depletion

The reduction of ozone in the stratosphere primarily caused by human-made chemicals like CFCs.

Chlorine Catalysis

The process by which chlorine atoms destroy ozone molecules without being consumed in the reaction.

Natural Ozone Balance

The dynamic cycle of ozone being continuously created and destroyed in the atmosphere.

UV-B Radiation

A type of ultraviolet radiation that is highly energetic and harmful to living organisms.

Methyl Bromide

A pesticide used in agriculture, significantly more harmful to ozone than CFCs.

Polar Vortex

A large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding the Earth’s poles that isolates polar air.

UV-A Radiation

Ultraviolet radiation that has longer wavelengths and is less harmful than UV-B and UV-C.

NOx

Nitrogen oxides, pollutants that contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone.

Stratospheric Ozone

Ozone located in the stratosphere that protects the Earth from UV radiation.

Ozone Hole Recovery

The gradual restoration of ozone levels in the atmosphere following international regulations on CFCs.

CFC Lifecycle

The long duration (60-120 years) that CFCs remain in the atmosphere before breaking down.

Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS)

Chemicals that harm the ozone layer, including CFCs, HCFCs, halons, and methyl bromide.

Surface-Level Ozone

Ozone that is formed at ground level and contributes to smog, considered harmful.

Ozone Destruction Process

A series of chemical reactions where chlorine atoms break down ozone molecules.

Skin Cancer

A serious health issue caused by exposure to UV radiation, made more likely with ozone depletion.

Environmental Catastrophe

Severe ecological damage resulting from human activities, such as ozone layer depletion.

Satellite Measurements

Remote sensing techniques used to monitor ozone levels in the atmosphere.

Halons

A class of ozone-depleting chemicals used in fire suppression.

Niagara Protocol

Incorrect term reference, should be Montreal Protocol regarding ozone protection.

Ozone Decline Timeline

Charting significant events in ozone depletion history from the discovery of CFCs to regulatory actions.

Chlorine Release Reaction

The process where UV light breaks down CFCs, releasing chlorine that reacts with ozone.

Ozone Mapping

Technique using spectrometers to visualize and measure ozone concentrations across the Earth.

Emissions from Burning Hydrocarbons

The release of pollutants that can contribute to ozone formation at ground level.

Atmospheric Concentrations

The measurement of gases, including ozone and CFCs, in Earth's atmosphere.

Chemical Stability of CFCs

The property of CFCs that allows them to persist in the environment without breaking down.

Chlorine Reactivity

The ability of chlorine to engage in reactions that break down ozone molecules.