Natural Ivb Radiation Impact On Marine Life Research Paper
To what extent does natural UVB radiation impact on the marine life?
Ultraviolet-B radiation, also known as UVB, is a type of ultraviolet radiation forming a part of the electromagnetic spectrum (6). It is produced by high temperature surfaces in a continuous spectrum with the primary natural source being the sun. UVB radiation is harmful to living organisms and is only partially absorbed by the ozone layer of lower stratosphere(6). And due to ozone depletion in the recent decades, more UVB radiation reaches the surface of the Earth and hence able to penetrate through sea at a greater depth, causing detrimental damages to marine life(1,8).
UVB radiation forms 1.5% of the solar irradiance energy(6). It is undetectable by human eyes and is found …show more content…
The declination of ozone, especially in Antarctica has reached 50% in the last two decades (4,8). This is has caused increased levels of UVB radiation to reach and penetrate through the upper layer the ocean, up to a depth of 30m of ocean can be penetrated through. This is leading to unprecedented threat to the marine life. Microscopic marine organism such as phytoplankton and zooplankton are highly sensitive to UVB radiation (1). Phytoplankton are single-celled organism, as UVB is absorbed by a few layer of cells, single celled organisms like phytoplankton lack out layers protection from the radiation (4,9). Even a small increase in UVB radiation is deleterious to them, so excessive UVB impairs the photosynthesis of phytoplankton, inhibits its growth rate and cause lethal DNA damage to it, greatly reducing its population (1,4,8). Research has shown that, UVB radiation has reduced the phytoplankton population by 6%-12% in Antarctica (2,9). Zooplankton, the microscopic animals that feed on phytoplankton are as well threaten by the exposure to UVB radiation (2). They are either direct physically being impacted by UVB radiation or indirectly influenced by reduction and limitation of food sources(1,8,9). As phytoplankton and zooplankton form the base of marine food web, the reduction in their population would have a direct effect on the marine life from lower to upper of the food chain(9). Larger organisms such
Ultraviolet-B radiation, also known as UVB, is a type of ultraviolet radiation forming a part of the electromagnetic spectrum (6). It is produced by high temperature surfaces in a continuous spectrum with the primary natural source being the sun. UVB radiation is harmful to living organisms and is only partially absorbed by the ozone layer of lower stratosphere(6). And due to ozone depletion in the recent decades, more UVB radiation reaches the surface of the Earth and hence able to penetrate through sea at a greater depth, causing detrimental damages to marine life(1,8).
UVB radiation forms 1.5% of the solar irradiance energy(6). It is undetectable by human eyes and is found …show more content…
The declination of ozone, especially in Antarctica has reached 50% in the last two decades (4,8). This is has caused increased levels of UVB radiation to reach and penetrate through the upper layer the ocean, up to a depth of 30m of ocean can be penetrated through. This is leading to unprecedented threat to the marine life. Microscopic marine organism such as phytoplankton and zooplankton are highly sensitive to UVB radiation (1). Phytoplankton are single-celled organism, as UVB is absorbed by a few layer of cells, single celled organisms like phytoplankton lack out layers protection from the radiation (4,9). Even a small increase in UVB radiation is deleterious to them, so excessive UVB impairs the photosynthesis of phytoplankton, inhibits its growth rate and cause lethal DNA damage to it, greatly reducing its population (1,4,8). Research has shown that, UVB radiation has reduced the phytoplankton population by 6%-12% in Antarctica (2,9). Zooplankton, the microscopic animals that feed on phytoplankton are as well threaten by the exposure to UVB radiation (2). They are either direct physically being impacted by UVB radiation or indirectly influenced by reduction and limitation of food sources(1,8,9). As phytoplankton and zooplankton form the base of marine food web, the reduction in their population would have a direct effect on the marine life from lower to upper of the food chain(9). Larger organisms such