Ozone

Ozone is a molecule consisting of three oxygen atoms. It is a pale blue gas with a distinctively pungent smell. Ozone is formed when ultraviolet light interacts with atmospheric oxygen. The ozone layer is a region of the Earth’s atmosphere that contains high concentrations of ozone. This layer helps to protect the Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

Ozone depletion occurs when the ozone layer is depleted of its ozone molecules, typically as a result of human activity. When this happens, more ultraviolet radiation is able to reach the Earth’s surface, which can lead to negative health effects in humans and other animals, as well as damage to plant life.

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is an international treaty that was created in 1987 in an effort to address the issue of ozone depletion. The treaty requires signatory countries to take measures to reduce their production and use of substances that contribute to ozone depletion, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).