世界节假日博览 第152期:臭氧层保护日

There is a special day to recognize the importance of the ozone layer. In 1995, the United Nations General Assembly decided September 16th is the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. This is the date on which countries signed the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the Ozone Layer in 1987. The U.N. said it was urgent we consider the “need to preserve the ozone layer, which filters sunlight and prevents the adverse effects of ultraviolet radiation reaching the Earth's surface, thereby preserving life on the planet“. It Invited every country to devote this special day to promotion, at the national level, of concrete activities in accordance with the objectives and goals of the Montreal Protocol“.

世界上有专门一天来认识臭氧层的重要性。1995年，联合国大会决定将9月16日设为臭氧层保护日。这一节日的时间与1987年关于消耗臭氧层物质的蒙特利尔议定书的签署日期相同。联合国宣称我们考虑臭氧层保护的事迫在眉睫，“因为臭氧层能过滤阳光，防止照到地球表面的紫外线辐射的负面影响，从而保护地球上的生命。”联合国邀请每个国家在这特殊的一天有所表示，在国家层面上采取与蒙特利尔协议的目标相关的具体行动。


The ozone layer is a layer in Earth's atmosphere that contains high concentrations of ozone (O₃). This layer absorbs up to 99 per cent of the sun's damaging ultra-violet (UV) rays. These rays contain radiation from the sun and can give us skin cancer. They also damage plant and marine life as well as warm the temperature of the Earth. The ozone layer surrounds the Earth roughly 25km above us. Many human activities are thinning the layer. In several places, there are large holes that let in pure UV light. The chemicals used in fridges, air conditioners, foam packaging and fire extinguishers rise into the atmosphere and attack the ozone. Ozone cover is dropping by roughly four per cent a decade.

臭氧层是地球大气层中的一层,含有高浓度的臭氧（O₃)。臭氧层吸收了高达99%的破坏性紫外线辐射。这些来自太阳的紫外线辐射会导致皮肤癌，也会损害植物和海洋生物，同时使全球升温。臭氧层在地球表层上空大约25km的位置。许多人类活动正削薄臭氧层。在几个地方，甚至出现了臭氧漏洞，导致太阳直射。冰箱、空调、泡沫包装和灭火器中的化学物质泄漏到大气中，使臭氧层受损。臭氧的覆盖率以每十年大约4%的速度减少。