Marine environmental awareness course Emissions to air • Ozone Depleting Substances Name • Date and Place
Emissions to air • Ozone Depleting Substances Contents The ozone layer Ozone depletion The current ozone layer The role of shipping 2 Illustration and photo: NASA and Green Award Foundation
The ozone layer protects life on Earth from harmful UV radiation Concentration of natural ozone (O3) is highest in stratosphere Peak concentrations: 15 ppm Illustration: ProSea
Ozone layer is thinning wordwide Because of Ozone Depleting Substances emitted by humans: CFCs, halons refrigeration, air conditioning, fire fighting equipment, ... Thinner ozone layer: more UV radiation reaches the Earth. Consequences (damage of cells in living organisms): Dangers for human health (skin cancer) Phytoplankton is damaged Crop damage Illustration: NASA
Ozone Depleting Substances have been phased out since 1989 CFCs replaced by H(C)FCs Still, the ozone layer is currently at its thinnest. Why is this, do you think? Effect of Montreal Protocol will be visible not before the middle of 21st century (lag phase) 1979 2008 Illustration: NASA
Role of shipping MARPOL Annex VI (Montreal Protocol) Use of halons and CFCs is phased out HCFCs are also phased out ODS record book Leaking percentages?