Ocean is responsible for Ozone layer Destruction

Scientists have revealed out the culprit behind the destruction of the protective layer of Earth. A gas released from the oceans on Earth is held responsible for this act.

Ocean is responsible for Ozone layer Destruction

A research team at the Universities of York and Leeds found a principal source of iodine oxide with the emission of a gas hypoiodous acid (HOI) is being released from the ocean along with a contribution from molecular Iodine(I2). Since 1970s the presence of methyl iodide (CH3I) in the ocean and presence of iodine in the atmosphere has been traced to arise mainly due to the emissions of organic compounds from phytoplankton (microscopic marine plants). The study showed that reactive iodine, along with bromine, in the atmosphere is responsible for the destruction of vast amounts of ozone (around 50% more than predicted) in the lower atmosphere over the tropical Atlantic Ocean.

The scientists have done a series of reaction and showed that reaction of iodine with ozone on sea surface could result in 75% observed iodine oxide levels over the tropical Atlantic Ocean.