Starting from the industrial revolution, our skill to revolutionize the world around us has become intense. Before, the impact on our planet was almost unnoticeable. Recently, the effects of our increased activity have created a noticeable impact to the world. We have thinned the ozone layer and may now be starting to change the very climate system upon which we and all other life on Earth depend on. It’s like we are experimenting with the future, but unlike lab experiments, we can scrap it and start a new one is it fails, but altering the climate cannot be easily undone. We will be forced to live with the consequences for a very long time. Undoing what we have done to the ozone layer is not that simple. What is the ozone layer? The ozone layer is a part of the stratosphere containing highly poisonous O3 gas with a strong odor. Ozone is formed by the action of solar ultraviolet light on oxygen. Ozone at ground level is a health hazard. High concentrations of ozone at ground level are dangerous to breathe and can damage the lungs. However, the ozone layer inhibits most ultraviolet and other high energy radiation from entering to the earth's surface. The ozone has been thinning since the 70s, but there was no hard proof that it was. In the mid 80's, scientists have discovered that a "hole" formed in the ozone layer, in an area where the ozone was up to 50 percent thinner than normal and it develops occasionally in the ozone layer above Antarctica. The hole in Earth's ozone layer keeps on getting bigger and bigger. Besides, the ozone layer is predictable to continue thinning well into the next century. Ozone layer protects the planet from dangerous ultraviolet solar rays, without the ozone layer, life will not be able to survi... ... middle of paper ... ...problem still exists. What is the government doing to help? 194 nations, including Canada, have signed an international agreement to end the production of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons and other ozone depleting substances (ODS). The agreement is called the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (1987). Many scientists are hoping that the ozone hole will be completely repaired by 2050, just by not using those chemicals anymore. Finally, while we can't fully stop the creation of ozone, we can defiantly help reduce it. To prevent Ozone depletion, we can start by using energy efficient appliances. Recycling and reusing of materials can also help in preserving the zone. As well as getting governments to ban the use of chlorofluorocarbons in industries. Stopping the use of CFCs is the most important step towards a safe environment in future.
The ozone layer is the one that protects living things from the pure ultraviolet rays of the sun.
Today, we take many of our natural resources for granted without think about the consequences. For example, cutting down trees, burning fossil fuel, and the consumption of meat. Our ozone layer is becoming weaker and weaker to due factories burning too much fossil fuel. This causes too much carbon dioxide, which affects our ozone layer. If we can limit the amount of natural resources we use on a daily basis, we will be able to see a big change in society.
15.2) The accumulation of chlorofluorocarbons is responsible for depleting the atmospheric zone. The atmospheric zone has changed in concentration due to human activity. The CFCs release chlorine atoms which react with ozone reducing it to molecular O₂. Following chemical reactions release the chlorine which reacts with other ozone molecules in a catalytic chain reaction. The ozone layer is getting thinner and thinner as stable air at places such as Antarctica allows reaction to continue. The accumulation of CFCs has led to increased UV radiation in sunlight reaching the earth thereby decreasing ozone levels. The global temperature has increased.
As the twenty-first century progresses, it has become increasingly apparent just how many challenges the world faces. Prominent among these concerns are environmental issues, in particular, ozone depletion and climate change. While the international community has been exceptionally successful in its struggle to reduce the production and consumption of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), the organic compounds that contribute to the ozone issue, its efforts to tackle climate change have yielded considerably fewer advancements. A number of factors that helped the proceedings of the ozone regime, or campaign, are not applicable to the climate change regime. The issue of limiting CFCs was much less politically and economically charged than that of reducing greenhouse gases (GHGs), which cause the greenhouse effect and the consequent warming of the planet. Climate change has been referred to as the ultimate “tragedy of the commons”, an important metaphor in economics that helps explain why this subject is still at the centre of much heated debate and has yet to be resolved in a manner similar to that of the ozone problem.
”(Geduld) Although most of these deaths are from long term exposure to the pollutants there was still “2,682 deaths caused from short term exposure. ”(Geduld).“5.5 percent of cardiopulmonary (heart and lung disease related) deaths can be attributed to ground-level ozone exposure, which has increased over the past decade.” (David Suzuki Foundation) There were also “92’000 emergency-room visits and 620,000 visits to a doctor’s office in a year” It is estimated that by “2031 90,000 people will have died from short term exposure and 710,000 from long-term exposure to air pollution.
Climate change is a growing issue with the rise in industrial, commercial, and personal usage of energy. The burning of such things such as oil, coal and natural gases create toxic pollutants called “greenhouse gases.” The largest and most prevalent of greenhouse gases is carbon dioxide. (Overview of Greenhouse Gases). The wasteful history humanity has exhibited is deadly to the progression of our Earth. There are many things humanity can do in order to delay the inevitable warming of our planet and to prevent human-generated effects. Knowledge on the subject can significantly increase the awareness and subsequently improve the outcome of a global effort put forth by society. All that needs to be done, is to recognize our impact and how we can make a difference.
When CFC molecules reach the stratosphere, the sun's radiation breaks it apart, freeing the chorine atom to destroy ozone molecules. The effect is a growing ozone hole which forms over Antarctica in October and usually lasts through mid November. During the annual ozone hole, the amount of UV radiation that reaches the Earth can double. Ozone depletion serves as a major health risk for human beings. The three primary health effects of ultraviolet radiation on human health are damage to the skin,eyes, and immune system.
...depletion of the ozone layer, biodiversity and stress on food producing systems(IPCC 2013). Therefore, climate change is highly risky and the appropriate international steps should be taken in order to stop more climate change and its negative and severe consequences.
Is the atmosphere really falling apart right above us, or is it just a myth? Some people like Jain Ankit believe we are to blame for the atmosphere’s demolition as she supports her belief in the article “Ozone Layer Depletion – Causes, Effects and Solutions.” Others such as Edmund Contoski in his article “Global Warming Is a Myth” back up the idea that we do not make as big of an impact that most of us believe. Ankit Jain’s article is more persuasive because of her effective use of Ethos. Logos, and Pathos.
The ozone layer diminishes more each year. As the area of polar ozone depletion (commonly called the ozone hole) gets larger, additional ultraviolet rays are allowed to pass through. These rays cause cancer, cataracts, and lowered immunity to diseases.1 What causes the depletion of the ozone layer?
For the previous 200 years, the industrial revolution’s discovery of fossil fuels reigned supreme. (Benefits of Recycling, History of Alternative Energy) Newly developed factories continued their steady streams of production and our society started becoming larger consumers. To meet the increasing demand, more product had to be made, and this resulted in more waste being emitted into the atmosphere. These gases built up until they caused the ozone layer to thicken to the point where it started trapping the h...
Nowadays, we can see a lot of campaigns to reduce this humans’ contribution of greenhouse gases to atmosphere. These campaign’s missions are usually about reducing the energy that we use, convincing us to use recyclable energy, stopping the deforestation... These missions are all about mitigating to climate change. Climate change mitigation is the actions to limit the significant rate of long term climate change. In other words, climate change mitigation is all of the actions about lowering the humans’ greenhouse gas contribution to atmosphere. It is now too late for humans’ to prevent the effects of climate change, but these effects can be reduced in the future with mitigation. The most popular treaty, disenchant of humanity, is Kyoto Protocol. The main goal of Kyoto Protocol is reducing the human emitted greenhouse gases, in other word, mitigation. Also in ways that underlying national differences in GHG emissions, wealth, and capacity to make th...
Ozone gas forms a layer all around the earth high in the stratosphere. It serves as a vital and effective protective barrier from the sun's ultraviolet rays. In recent years, scientists have sounded alarms internationally about the depletion of the ozone layer, citing chemical pollution as the major cause.
You know how all anyone seems to be concerned about anymore is keeping the planet “healthy” and clean. Well, there is a very good reason for that. More and more people are realizing the danger we are putting ourselves and our planet in every time we use our SUV’s or leave lights on in rooms that aren’t being used. Every time you use something or do something that emits greenhouse gas, in the long run, you are probably damaging our ozone layer, further exposing us to the harmful rays of the sun and other alien things that exist in outer space. This is just one of many reasons why we as the human race and the only species that has ever really done anything to harm the earth need to start being eco-friendly and energy smart.
Atmospheric ozone layer depletion is a serious problem currently facing the world. The ozone layer protects humans, animals, and plants from harmful ultraviolet rays. Money and time are being spent on ozone repair, but the problem still exists.