Ozone layer is the layer of ozone gas formed in the stratosphere between 12 to 24 Km from the surface of the earth. Ozone is formed naturally as oxygen molecules absorb the high energy ultra violet rays of the Sun. The u.v. radiation splits oxygen molecules into oxygen atom which then combine with oxygen molecules to form ozone. The ozone formed absorbs the harmful u.v rays of the sun and protects us from its damaging effects.Due to the absorption of ultraviolet rays, stratosphere has more temperature at upper surface. Ozone layer plays a vital role in the balance of weather and temperature on the earth.

Ozone layer depletion is the burning issue of present days.The ozone layer depletion is the thinning of the ozone layer due to the influence of other gases like chlorofluorocarbons, oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, etc. In 1985,NASA scientists discovered a hole in the protective ozone layer over Antarctica. It is believed that the ozone layer began to lose its balance from the decade of seventy. When the gases like CFCs,CO, Oxides of nitrogen, etc. reach into stratosphere, they decompose by ultraviolet radiation and form chlorine.

Due to the ozone layer depletion there has been rise of many problems and imbalance in the environment. Some major effects of the ozone layer depletion are as under.

The ozone layer depletion has an adverse effect on the human being. Due to ozone depletion, the ultraviolet rays fall directly on the earth's surface that causes skin infections, inflammation,different types of cancer, cataract, loss of immunity, etc.It may also effect on DNA which may causes mutation.There are many environmental effects on human directly and indirectly due to ozone layer depletion.

The ozone layer depletion has also adverse effects on the animals. Larvae and eggs of aquatic animals and amphibians die due to ozone layer depletion.Ultraviolet rays of the sun also effects fertility of animals which effect their population. The ozone layer depletion can also cayse cancer to the animals.

The ozone layer depletion leads to the environment change due to which it reduces forests and decreases the crop yielding. Many plants and forests are badly affected due to ozone layer depletion because of harmful ultraviolet rays of sun. It also effect the fertility of field and decreases the crop-yielding.

The gases which lead to the depletion of ozone layer is the green house gases like CFCs, carbon monoxides, oxides of nitrogen etc. Due to over green house effect, the temperature of the earth increases, which causes global warming.It is believed that if the temperature of earth continues to increase in the present ratio, the day is not so far, when the oceans will engulf number of islands. There are many environmental, health, economical, developmental effects of ozone layer depletion that we should suffer in coming days.Hence, it is very important for us to protect the ozone layer from depletion.

The following methods should be used for the conservation of ozone layer.