World Ozone Day was first adopted by the United nations General Assembly in its resolution 49/114 to be celebrated by the entire world on the 16th of September since 1995.It emphasizes the people the importance of Ozone layer and for its preservation and its role in the environment. Apart from this Ozone Day reflects the adoption of Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the Ozone layer.
The day's main focus is to draw the attention of the people worldwide on the protection of the ozone layer. The Montreal protocol fixes a particular theme each year and the different member nations works on its aims and objectives by taking concrete steps following the various amendments put up by the Montreal Protocol. This day is marked by celebration of various programs and events and activities are conducted mainly at educational institutions to earn and know more about this global phenomenon.
Our earth is immediately covered by the Stratosphere in which the ozone layer was discovered in its lowermost portion. In the year 1913 Charles fabric and Henri Buisson discovered the ozone layer which is supposed to protect the earth by absorbing nearly 93 % of the harmful, high frequency Ultra-violet radiations coming from the sun. Three main radiations the earth from the sun and they are namely Infrared, Ultraviolet and Visible.
According to various studies done the thickness of the ozone layer is more at the poles and less dense above the equator. Its variations are also dependant on the season with more in winters than in summer. It was discovered in the year 1970 that a hole is been developed in the ozone layer because of the release of CFC's.Thus the UNEP has come up with a number of ideas and co-operative activities to protect the Ozone layer. The UNEP is also focusing on the elimination of production and use of ozone-depleting substances, including chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), used as industrial refrigerants and in aerosols, and the pesticide methyl bromide. The ozone layer depletion has also resulted in number of melanoma cases across the world and nearly 66,000 people die from skin cancer every year. Reports of Ozone layer depletion
Apart from the artificial components like chlorofluorocarbons and bromoflurocarbons which cause damage to Ozone molecules, there are also other sources which produce free radicals like hydroxyl, chlorine, bromine, and nitric oxide responsible for causing damage to the ozone molecules. These radicals are capable of rising even above the stratosphere and catalyze a chain reaction capable of breaking down over 100,000 Ozone molecules. With the growing technology which accounts for both good and bad there are many industries and commercial factories involved in the manufacture of appliances like refrigerator, fire extinguisher, and air conditioners which uses component like chlorofluorocarbons in large quantity which in turn release the free radicals.
From the various studies and experiment done by the NASA's Earth-observing Aura satellite the size of the ozone hole is been increasing considerably. In the year 2007 the ozone hole was about 9.7 million square miles - just larger than the size of North America. In 1985 British scientists, Joseph Farman, Brian Gardiner, and Jonathan Shanklin discovered the Antarctic Ozone hole which according to them on September 12, 2008, has reached its maximum size for the year.
Preventions
As a citizen of this universe it is an ardent duty for each and every individual to take steps towards this issue like Planting of more trees that can absorb carbon-di-oxide. Saving energy. Using eco-friendly products and goods. Spread more awareness at local levels as these small steps can cumulatively produce drastic impacts.