The Ozone Layer Essay

706 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Negative effects of ozone depletion

THE OZONE LAYER: THE PAST, THE PRESENT, AND THE FUTURE
The Past
The ozonosphere or as we know it, the ozone layer, is the region of the Earth’s upper atmosphere. It contains a high concentration of ozone molecules. The ozone molecules in the ozone layer work to block an estimated 97-99 percentage of solar radiation from reaching the Earth’s surface. If the ozone layer were not present the radiation from the sun would kill most living things and make our planet uninhabitable. The size and thickness of the ozone layer varies by location and the time of year. It is larger towards the poles of the earth and at its thickest during the spring time. The ozone layer was first discovered by Charles Fabry and Henri Buisson in 1913. In 1958 a network of ozone monitoring stations were established and still operate today. It is important to understand and monitor our ozone layer in order to protect ourselves from the sun’s harmful radiation. We will look at the current status of the ozone layer, the main causes of its degradation, and what the future holds for the ozone layer if we don’t change the way we live.
The Present

In the 1980’s a “hole” in our ozone layer was discovered. The hole really isn’t a hole, but rather a section of ozone layer that is really thin. The hole is located in the Southern Hemisphere and during the spring months the ozone layer is reduced an estimated 60 percent from its normal levels. The current status of the ozone layer is much better than it was is in the past. This is primarily due to the education of the population and government restrictions. By educating the population on what substances we produce damage the ozone layer, the ozone layer has been able to slowly replenish its self. The last scientific asse...

... middle of paper ...

...ompletely heal itself within the next 50 years. As we continue to monitor the status of the ozone layer, we still need to study it as well. Understanding the ozone layer and how it works will aide us in new approaches on how to better take care of this precious shield of the Earth. As science advances, we will be able to simulate what other variants affect the ozone layer, not just the ones we know are harmful. As new products and chemicals are discovered or made, they need to be tested to gauge what, if any impact they will have on the ozone layer. The Montreal Protocol needs to be an ever evolving agreement. I would suggest an annual meeting with all its participants to re-address the list of banned substances and add new ones as they are discovered. With this knowledge we will be able to ensure that are species as a whole can continue to prosper on this planet.

Show More
Related

  • Pyruvate Essay

    1081 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Pathos In Al Gore's Argument For Global Warming

    1142 Words  | 3 Pages

    Global warming is one of the most terrifying dangers that determines the future of life on Planet Earth. This gradual warming of planet Earth is due to excessive Carbon Dioxide which makes the Ozone layer thinner. The ozone layer is a thin layer located in the Stratosphere which reduces solar radiation to enter the earth (Owen). Al Gore, the 45th Vice President of the US, won a Nobel Prize on December 1, 2007 for raising awareness for climate change. His winning prize, $1.6 million went towards a new non-profit organization, Climate Reality Project, whose sole purpose is to take action on climate change (Biography.com Editors). He mentions his upcoming strategies for reducing CO2(Carbon Dioxide) emissions in his Global Warming is an Immediate

    Read More

  • Photochemical Smog Essay

    724 Words  | 2 Pages

    The initial step in photochemical reactions is the absorption of a photon by an atom, molecule, free radical or ion. The result of this absorption is strongly dependent on the energy, in other word the wavelength of the photon. Visible and ultraviolet portion of the light is required to start the photochemical reactions. The absorption can generate dissociation, internal rearrangement, flourescence, or excited species. Photochemical smog can occur in any environment where there are large and continuous emissions of primary air pollutants. However specifics of climate and geography play an important role in the persistence and severity of the photochemical smog. Two factors influencing the formation of photochemical smog:

    Read More

  • Pollution in Canada is not Good

    989 Words  | 2 Pages

    “In 2008, 21,000 Canadians died from the effects of air pollution.”(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)

    Read More

  • The Implications of Ozone Depletion on Human Health

    1357 Words  | 3 Pages

    Stratospheric ozone absorbs 97-99% of ultraviolet radiation. As this protective layer continues to dissentigrate, human health will suffer. One American dies every hour from skin cancer, a direct result of ozone depletion by anthropogenic chemicals, primarily CFCs, which damage the ozone layer. Alternate chemicals are now being used in the place of CFCs that will not damage statospheric ozone, and there is international recognition of the importance of developing these chemicals. The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty which limits the production of ozone depleting substances. Still, human health is at risk from the deletion of ozone, and the risk factor will continue to rise unless people and industries become more aware of the implications connected with everyday use of chemicals which destroy stratospheric ozone.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Climate Change

    1074 Words  | 3 Pages

    Inaction is becoming increasingly more risky. For many years it has been the consensus to keep the rise in global temperature under 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial

    Read More

  • Air Pollution Essay: Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change

    1498 Words  | 3 Pages

    Air pollution and greenhouse gases are the reason for the planet as it is today; the reason why we see campaigns flooding the media informing us to ‘switch off’, ‘save the planet’ and ‘turn down the heat’ and the reason why the government is trying to develop a successful scheme, such as the carbon tax scheme, to reduce air pollution caused by major industries. Air pollution and greenhouse gases are the two immediate causes of global warming and climate change. Air pollution occurs when chemicals or particulate matter enter the atmosphere. They can cause damage to living organisms on the planet, as well as destruction to the natural and synthetic environment (Energy Environment.net 2008). Greenhouse gases are gases in the atmosphere that absorb infrared radiation emitted from the earth. They trap infrared radiation in the form of heat, and hence contribute to global warming. Anthropogenic greenhouse gases are a direct result of air pollution. They are the physical gases emitted that cause air pollution. Naturally occurring greenhouse gases also have an influence on the earth’s atmosphere, though it is not as conspicuous as anthropogenic causes. Together, air pollution and greenhouse gases are intensifying climate change and global warming on a world-wide basis.

    Read More

  • Depletion Of The Ozone Layer

    1057 Words  | 3 Pages

    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?

    Read More

  • Essay On Air Climate

    874 Words  | 2 Pages

    Air temperature trends across the African Continent. Air temperature (i.e. climate change) is one of the most controversial topics for a lot of researchers. Mainly around problems related to where it is exposed and what gives rise to it (King’uyu et al., 2000). A lot of information is shown by different researchers and findings, as New et al.

    Read More

  • Exemplification Essay: Why The World Is Doomed

    1087 Words  | 3 Pages

    All facts, statements and reports conclude that mankind is in part responsible for this change in our ecosystem. Hence if we do not change, drastic changes over the next 100 years will threaten the safety of some people and our environment. More and more research is being deployed into this intriguing field of science. Some scientists deny reports of global warming impacts. And some scientists show more and more proof of such impacts. When will the academic and governmental community understand the consequences of our treasured way of life? Will it take huge catastrophic man-induced disasters to change the worlds mind on what actions to take? Is our economy so reliant upon oil that it will risk our planets' health, for money? People need to take action on these issues before the damage of global warming has left a huge, worsening-footprint on our earth.

    Read More

  • Advantages of Weather Manipulation

    1459 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...rk together. Efforts such as the Montreal Protocol were largely successful in reducing the use of ozone-destroying chemicals, but many countries chose to not even participate in the Kyoto Protocol or other efforts. It appears that corporations do control many governments today.

    Read More

  • Carbon Emissions Essay

    769 Words  | 2 Pages

    "China Plans to Regulate Some of Its Carbon Emissions for the First Time Ever." Smithsonian. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2014.

    Read More

  • The Protection of the Environment Through Law

    1443 Words  | 3 Pages

    The protection of the environment however has just recently become the major issue that it is in today’s society. People worldwide have slowly begun to realize and become aware of the blatant destruction and deterioration of the environment and ozone. As well as the consequences and side affects, that we, as a society have created. The majority of people are just becoming aware of the frightening reality of the situation. As society becomes more informed on the issue of the environment, they too become more impatient, and feel that in the snap of fingers, the damage can be reversed and future damage can be stopped instantaneously.

    Read More

  • Causes and Effects of Global Warming

    2365 Words  | 5 Pages

    ...whole will not be able to be salvaged. There is a general worldwide consensus that there is climate change occurring, but many still claim it's not man made, but a natural earth cycle. While this may contain some truth, most believe that the causes of aerosol, fossil fuels, and the greenhouse effect are the reasons for global warming. These causes can easily be reduced if we take in the time and effort to halt the actions. Simple actions can be made that will not have a severe effect on our everyday lives. Al Gore once said, "The good news is, we have everything we need now to respond to the challenge of global warming. We have all the technologies we need, more are being developed but we should not wait, we cannot wait, we must not wait.” Global warming is a major factor that has to be solved before all the effects begin to occur and it is too late to help.

    Read More

  • Pollution Essay: Global Warming

    719 Words  | 2 Pages

    Global warming is an increase in the earth's temperature due to fossil fuels, industry, and agricultural processes caused by human, natural, and other gas emissions. This results in an increased evacuation of greenhouse gases. “Short-wave solar radiation sinks into the Earth's atmosphere and warms its surface while long-wave infrared radiation emitted by earth's surface is absorbed, and then re-emitted by trace gases.” (2)

    Read More

More about The Ozone Layer Essay

Open Document