10 things you didn’t know about the ozone layer

This coming September 16 is the international day for the preservation of the ozone layer.

In today’s post we tell you what it is exactly and 10 things you probably did not know about this essential element for life.

What is the ozone layer?

The ozone layer or ozonosphere is the area of ​​the Earth’s stratosphere that contains a relatively high concentration of ozone.

This layer, which extends from approximately 15 km to 50 km of altitude, gathers 90% of the ozone present in the atmosphere and absorbs 97 to 99% of low-frequency ultraviolet radiation.

This absorption is essential for life on our planet, hence the great concern that it disappear and therefore the immense importance that we preserve it.

10 things you didn’t know about the ozone layer

1. The ozone layer was first observed in 1912 when Antarctic explorers said they had seen veil-like clouds in the polar stratosphere.
2. Ozone began to be controlled in 1956 when the Halley Bay Observatory was established in Antarctica.

1. The ozone layer is also studied from different satellites and aircraft.
2. Ozone acts as a filter, or protective shield, against harmful, high-energy radiation that reaches the Earth, allowing others to pass through, such as long-wave ultraviolet, which in this way reaches the surface.
3. The apparatus for measuring ozone in the stratosphere is called a spectrophotometer and was created by the British meteorologist G.M.B Dobson.
4. Ozone concentration is measured in Dobson units in honor of this meteorologist.
5. Its chemical formula is O3.
6. Ozone closest to Earth removes pollutants from the atmosphere.
7. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are the biggest culprit in the hole created and can be found in aerosols, air conditioners, refrigerators … among others.
8. The ozone layer is located in a strip located between about 20 and about 30 kilometers above us.

The future of the ozone layer

It is believed that the ozone layer could be fully recovered by 2060, if protective measures continue to be applied.

These measures are included in the Montreal Protocol.

The use of industrial refrigerants and some aerosols have been destroying it for years.

Luckily measures are already being taken in this regard and various studies have shown that he is recovering little by little.