Skip to main content

How the Ozone Layer protects Humanity from Extinction

 


Ozone layer is a thin layer of gas that protects the Earth from the Sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The ozone layer absorbs harmful ultraviolet solar radiation.

The ozone layer is a protective atmospheric shield that cushions people from getting to adverse effects of ultraviolet radiation that can lead to increased cases of skin cancer.

How countries rushed to salvage the Ozone Layer 

Vienna convention adopted in 1985 brought countries that agreed to corporate on science and policy. It set a framework of protecting the ozone layer.

In 1987 the Montreal Protocol was signed and signatory nations agreed on stemming up efforts to protect the ozone shield.

Kenya ratified the Kigali amendment in 2023.  In the Kigali Amendment, countries agreed to scale down the production and use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)  powerful greenhouse gases used in refrigeration, air conditioning, and insulation. 

Protection methods that were advocated include phasing out ozone-depleting substances and adoption of eco-friendly products.

Depletion of the ozone layer can be critical to human health, agriculture and the environment.

How the Ozone Layer functions

Ozone is made up of 3 oxygen atoms O3, while the air we breath is made up of 2 oxygen atoms O2.

Ozone absorbs ultraviolet radiation (UV-B) from the sun. This process prevent harmful substances from reaching the Earth.

Ozone also absorbs another form of ultraviolet radiation (UV-C) from the sun. This process causes the regeneration of new ozone gases in the stratosphere.

Long-term exposure to high levels of UV-B threatens human health and damages most animals, plants and microbes, so the ozone layer protects all life on Earth.

Ozone depleting substances

1. chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which are mostly used in refrigerators, asthma inhalers and other aerosols.

2. hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), halons and methyl bromide.

3. Halons for fire protection on planes and ships.

Measures to prevent depletion of the Ozone Layer

There are a number of ways to help protect the ozone layer, including:

1. Planting trees and other plants. Trees and plants help in the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

2. Reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer.

3. Reducing the amount of chlorine and bromine in the atmosphere. Chlorine and bromine are two of the most harmful chemicals to the ozone layer.



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

How Musk's Neuralink Blindsight will allow the blind to see

  Scientists are still stunned by Elon Musk's plan to enable blind people to see, using his Neurolink's Brain Computer Interface chip dubbed Blindsight. Neurolink has already partnered with top Spanish scientists and US Santa Barbara to make a device called Blindsight, a smart Bionic Eye powered by brain implants and AI. Blindsight got the approval of the US Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA), though there have been no human trials. Musk confided that Neurolink will perform its first human implant of Blindsight at the course of 2025. Will Neurolink's Blindsight allow Blind People to see? Blindsight is designed to enable people with total visual impairment, as a result of damaged optic nerve but with intact visual cortex, to see. This is enhanced by bypassing the optic nerve and stimulating the visual cortex to create a visual perception. Visual cortex is part of the brain that receives, integrates and processes visual information relayed from the retina.  Blindsigh...

How Human Brain will replace Smartphones in communication

Elon Musk envisiges a future where smartphones are obsolete and communication happens directly through the brain.  According to Musk, Neuralink the brain-computer interface that his company is developing, could eventually replace phones entirely. Imagine navigating the internet, sending and receiving text messages, or even making calls, all with just your thoughts. This sounds like fictional science. However, Musk believes the integration of humans and artificial intelligence is a necessary mileage for human evolution.  Neuralink’s potential extends far beyond convenience; it could disrupt the field of medicine, communication and the way we interact with technology forever. The future Musk envisions is not just coming, it's already in the pipeline. NEURALINK will make Smartphones completely obsolete. Neuralink is a company that was found by billionaire Elon Musk and develops brain-computer interface technology. Its goal is to connect the human brain to computers so as t...

Why President Ruto risks being impeached

President William Ruto is treading a dangerous political path. His recent allegations over bribery in parliament might hound him out of office. The president has found himself in a political quagmire over his public expose on rampant graft in parliament. Legislators drawn from the National Assembly and the Senate were astounded by the manner in which the Head of State exposed their nakedness in the public gallery, instead of initiating prosecution process with the relevant mandated authorities. Majority of MPs were of the opinion that the president should have prosecuted his case with the relevant bodies established by the Constitution tasked to deal with corruption cases. National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula and his Senate counterpart Amazon Kingi have been directed by a section of MPs to summon the president to shed more light over his aspersions or risk being impeached. Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang' and his Nairobi colleague Edwin Sifuna were irritated by what they...