Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms

Difference Between

Home / Science & Nature / Science / Environmental Science / Difference Between Ozone Depletion and Global Warming

Difference Between Ozone Depletion and Global Warming

February 9, 2011 Posted by Madhu

The key difference between ozone depletion and global warming is that ozone depletion is the decrease in the thickness of the ozone layer, whereas global warming is the increase of heat in the atmosphere.

Ozone depletion and global warming are two major environmental concerns the world’s population face today. Understanding both these phenomena are important for the survival of life on earth since ozone depletion and global warming can bring harmful effects on us.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Ozone Depletion 
3. What is Global Warming
4. Side by Side Comparison – Ozone Depletion vs Global Warming in Tabular Form
5. Summary

What is Ozone Depletion?

Ozone depletion is the thinning of the Earth’s ozone layer. The ozone layer is the layer that is responsible for keeping most of the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays (UV rays) out of our planet. Without this layer of protection, we will be experiencing a lot more sunburn and possibly, skin cancers. Ozone is also a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. Let’s look at ozone depletion in detail.

There are two distinct observations regarding ozone depletion;

  1. A steady decline in the total amount of ozone in earth’s stratosphere
  2. A much larger springtime decrease in stratospheric ozone around earth’s polar regions.
Key Difference - Ozone Depletion vs Global Warming

Figure 01: An Image of Antarctic Ozone Hole

The major reason for ozone depletion is manufactured chemicals: halocarbon refrigerants, solvents, propellants, CFCs, etc. These gases reach the stratosphere after the emission. In the stratosphere, they release halogen atoms through photodissociation. Thus, this reaction catalyzes the breakdown of ozone molecules into oxygen molecules, leading to ozone depletion.

Effects of Ozone Depletion

  • Higher levels of UV-B rays reach the earth’s surface
  • Skin cancers and malignant melanoma in human skin
  • Increased production of vitamin D
  • Affects crops by affecting UV sensitive cyanobacteria

What is Global Warming?

Global warming is the gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth’s atmosphere, usually attributed to the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is the phenomenon wherein heat gets trapped within the earth’s atmosphere due to the presence of greenhouse gases. Moreover, the emission of greenhouse gases usually happens from factories, cars, appliances, and even aerosol cans. While some greenhouse gases like ozone are naturally occurring, others are not, and these are more difficult to get rid of.

Although there are time periods with high-temperature variations, this term specifically refers to the observed and continuing increase in average air and ocean temperature. Although some people use the terms global warming and climate change interchangeably, there is a difference between them; climate change includes both global warming and its effects.

Difference Between Ozone Depletion and Global Warming

Figure 02: Effects of Global Warming

Effects of Global Warming

  • Rising sea level
  • Regional changes in precipitation
  • Frequent extreme weather conditions
  • Expansion of deserts

What is the Difference Between Ozone Depletion and Global Warming?

Ozone depletion is the thinning of the Earth’s ozone layer and global warming is the gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth’s atmosphere, mainly due to the greenhouse effect.  The key difference between ozone depletion and global warming is that ozone depletion is the decrease in the thickness of the ozone layer whereas global warming is the increase of heat in the atmosphere.

Moreover, a vital difference between ozone depletion and global warming is that the ozone depletion increases the amount of UV rays that reach the earth’s surface; however, global warming increases the heat of the atmosphere by trapping greenhouse gases.

Difference Between Ozone Depletion and Global Warming in Tabular Form

Summary – Ozone Depletion vs Global Warming

Both ozone depletion and global warming adversely affect the life on earth. However, the key difference between ozone depletion and global warming is that ozone depletion is the decrease in the thickness of the ozone layer whereas global warming is the increase of heat in the atmosphere. If there is no change in human habits, our world may suffer irreversible effects due to these effects.

Reference:

1. Rongxing Guo, in Cross-Border Resource Management (Third Edition), 2018.
2. Alan McIntosh, Jennifer Pontius, in Science and the Global Environment, 2017.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Diagram showing ten indicators of global warming” By US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: National Climatic Data Center – State of the Climate in 2009: Supplemental and Summary Materials (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “NASA and NOAA Announce Ozone Hole is a Double Record Breaker” By NASA –  (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia

Related posts:

No related posts.

Filed Under: Environmental Science

About the Author: Madhu

Madhu is a graduate in Biological Sciences with BSc (Honours) Degree and currently persuing a Masters Degree in Industrial and Environmental Chemistry. With a mind rooted firmly to basic principals of chemistry and passion for ever evolving field of industrial chemistry, she is keenly interested to be a true companion for those who seek knowledge in the subject of chemistry.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Request Article

Featured Posts

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

You May Like

What is the Difference Between Black and White Friday

What is the Difference Between Black and White Friday

Difference Between Journal and Ledger

Difference Between Bloodhound and Coonhound

Difference Between Compact Bone and Spongy Bone

Difference Between Compact Bone and Spongy Bone

What is the Difference Between Humic and Non-Humic Substances

What is the Difference Between Humic and Non-Humic Substances

Latest Posts

  • What is the Difference Between Osteoporosis and Scoliosis
  • What is the Difference Between Saree and Half Saree
  • What is the Difference Between Hypernatremia and Hyponatremia
  • What is the Difference Between Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetic Ketoacidosis
  • What is the Difference Between Sciatica and Spinal Stenosis
  • What is the Difference Between Metatarsalgia and Morton’s Neuroma
  • Home
  • Vacancies
  • About
  • Request Article
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2010-2018 Difference Between. All rights reserved. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy: Legal.