The recovery phase of the Ozone Layer is being affected by the Volcanic eruptions.
During Volcanic eruption, massive clouds of ashes are produced in the troposphere, then they move upwards to the stratosphere. These ashes contain bromine and chlorine in high concentration. For two to 5 years, the ashes can stay in the stratosphere and the chemical reactions occurring within this period leads to the depletion of stratospheric ozone molecules. The bromine and chlorine present in the emitted gas belongs to a highly reactive element called halogens which requires the help of electrons in ozone gas to become stable.
The pollution and gas emissions as a result of human activities already contribute a number of halogens to the stratosphere. It is scientifically noted that the halogens released from the volcanic eruptions consist of twice and thrice as many halogens than human activities produce. This proves that the volcanic smoke is quite capable of ozone layer depletion. Also, the stratosphere is very high and therefore when the smoke reaches the same it can cover a large area, the size can span up to the entire North American region.
Although CFCs were phased out by the Montreal protocol (1987) thirty years ago, still there is an elevation in the level of chlorine-containing molecules in the atmosphere. Highly explosive volcanic eruptions release a huge amount of sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere which facilitates chlorine to convert and form reactive elements to destroy the ozone layer.
According to the researchers, when levels of chlorine CFCs are low, Volcanic Eruption results in the increased thickness of the ozone layer. As per the new researches, the giant volcanic eruptions at Nicaragua over the past 70,000 years released enough gases into the atmosphere that resulted in the thinning of the ozone layer. When the scientists analysed and took an average of 14 Nicaraguan eruptions, it was found that the bromine and chlorine concentrations at the stratosphere elevated to levels that were equivalent to 200% – 300% of 2011 concentrations of the same gases.
The ozone layer healing and global warming control are crucial to save the lives on earth. In order to achieve this, firstly we have to understand the diverse risk factors associated with geoengineering missions. It’s being said that the deliberate injection of man-made stratospheric sulphate aerosols in the right size is considered as a possible geoengineering scheme to control global warming. Because the Earth’s radiative balance is reduced by injected Sulphate aerosol particles through a scattering of Solar radiation back into space.
In short, volcanic eruptions are a natural process.
The ozone layer depletion is indeed routed in our improper management of things. The effects of Volcanic eruptions on the ozone layer can be lowered by controlling CFCs and other depletion elements by adopting potential measures. When our deeds combine with the natural phenomenon of emissions, it gradually results in more trouble. Let’s try our best to protect the ozone layer for our own safety and for the upcoming future too.
image credit: www.tiredearth.com
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