Ozone Depletion In The Antarctic

Want to read the rest of this paper? Join Essayworld today to view this entire essay and over 50,000 other term papers

means that one chlorine can destroy many ozone molecules (Figure 1.2)
During the winter in the Antarctic the circumpolar vortex, which is a strong westerly circulation around the continent, builds in the stratosphere. This phenomenon causes the interior of the stratosphere to be cut off and the temperatures drop below -800C. This results in thin clouds forming and that enables reactions with gases containing chlorine to take place. In the spring the sun returns and the chlorine in the stratosphere begins a series of ozone destroying catalytic chemical reactions creating the ozone hole over the Antarctic. During the late spring and early summer, the stratosphere begins to warm up and these reactions stop, the circumpolar vortex disappears and the ozone hole vanishes as fresh ozone is brought in (www.nbs.ac.uk/…).
The breakdown of the ozone layer over the Antarctic is effecting the marine bacteria and phytoplankton in devastating ways. The ozone layer is the only ...

Get instant access to over 50,000 essays. Write better papers. Get better grades. Already a member? Login

the effects of UVR on phytoplankton must also be addressed.

Phytoplankton

Phytoplankton are photosynthetic organisms that live at the surface of the water (Figure 3.1), or the photic zone. They orient themselves in the water column with external light sensors. The mechanisms used for mobility and orientation are severely impaired by UV-B radiation. This impairment causes massive inhibition of photosynthesis. This has been studied in the laboratory and in the field.
All phytoplankton studied have no UVR receptors. The need for these organisms to develop receptors through natural selection became apparent in the last fifteen years. The process of natural selection is a log one and ...

Succeed in your coursework without stepping into a library. Get access to a growing library of notes, book reports, and research papers in 2 minutes or less.

CITE THIS PAGE: