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International Day for the Protection of the Ozone Layer

What day is it?

September 16 is celebrated by the world community International Day for the Protection of the Ozone Layer. The purpose of this date is to draw the attention of the Earth’s population to the problem of the destruction of the ozone layer and to propose ways to solve it. It is known that the ozone layer, which protects the Earth’s atmosphere from the harmful effects of solar radiation, is being destroyed as a result of anthropogenic activities.

How did the idea to celebrate the International Day for the Protection of the Ozone Layer come about?

For the first time, ozone was discussed at the end of the 18th century, namely in 1785, when it was discovered by the outstanding Dutch scientist Van Marum. However, he considered it not a new substance, but a special “electric matter”. The term “ozone” was first proposed by the German chemist Schoenbein in 1840. The ozone layer was discovered directly in 1913 by the French physicists Chabri and Buison.

Later, scientists discovered that the ozone layer is destroyed under the influence of various chemicals. In 1985, a convention was adopted in the Austrian capital, Vienna, on the basis of research by physicists, which dealt with the protection of the ozone layer from destructive effects. The document was signed by representatives of 22 countries. Later, namely in the fall of 1987, a protocol was drawn up at a conference in Montreal, in which a list of all substances that negatively affect the ozone layer was specified. However, this document entered into force only two years later.

International Day of the Ozone Layer aims to draw society’s attention to the problems associated with its destruction. Interestingly, humanity can still protect the ozone layer from destruction by stopping the production and use of certain ozone-depleting substances. Scientists assure: if all the signatory countries of the convention carefully observe all the clauses of the agreement, then by 2050 the ozone layer will be completely restored.

International Day of Protection of the Ozone Layer in Ukraine

Ukraine also participated in the signing of the Vienna Convention in 1985, which was ratified the following year, in 1988 it joined the Montreal Protocol.

Ozone Layer

The ozone layer is a protective film of a gaseous substance that creates a barrier between our planet and outer space, which extends into the stratosphere at an altitude of 15 to 50 km. Its task is to protect the Earth from the destructive effects of solar radiation and preserve all life on the planet.

Ozone is a gas with high disinfecting and oxidizing properties. It has a harmful effect on pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc.), and is even capable of killing bacteria that are highly resistant to chlorine.

Ozone is often used in everyday life, it disinfects air, water, and products. Today, water purification in the United States and Western European countries is almost entirely done with the use of ozone gas.

With the help of ozonation, sewage water is cleaned from oil refining products, poisonous substances (cyanides, phenols, sulfides, etc.).

What are ozone holes?

As a result of careful long-term research of this gas, scientists distinguish several of its types:

Interesting Holidays:

Tropospheric – is the closest to our planet. Has a toxic and irritating effect. Under its influence, carcinogens and mutations are formed in the human body. The main sources of tropospheric ozone are emissions from industrial enterprises, thermal power plants, chemical solvents, gasoline vapors, etc.

External stratospheric is formed as a result of the interaction of the sun’s rays with atmospheric oxygen at a distance of 15 to 50 km above the Earth. It is this ozone layer that protects our planet from the penetration of ultraviolet rays. And the holes formed in it pose a threat to life on our planet.

Ozone holes are areas in which there is much less ozone, and through which ultraviolet radiation, which is extremely harmful to human life and health, penetrates into the atmosphere.

The first ozone hole with a width of more than 1000 kilometers was discovered over Antarctica in 1985, and later similar holes, only much smaller in size, began to be discovered in other places.

Restoration of the ozone layer

The problem of destruction of the ozone protective film over the earth has a global, planetary character. Therefore, immediately after the discovery of the first ozone hole, a delegation of scientists from different parts of the world gathered in Vienna to adopt and sign an agreement on the protection and preservation of the ozone layer. This treaty is known as the Vienna Convention. Later, it was supplemented by a carefully prepared protocol, which included a list of substances that have a detrimental effect on the ozone layer.

Substances that destroy the ozone layer are also powerful greenhouse gases. A 1987 international agreement known as the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer led to a successful global international policy to reduce ozone-depleting substances.

The Montreal Protocol provided a double benefit: stopping the destruction of the ozone layer and slowing the growth of greenhouse gases.