Ozone Depletion

The ozone layer sits in the stratosphere approximately 25km above the Earth. It is made up of ozone gases that act like a blanket to stop too much U radiation from the sun entering the atmosphere. !s U radiation hits the "zone layer the ozone gas absorbs the radiation and turns it into oxygen. The "zone layer prevents the harmful U radiation entering the Earth# $hich is vital because too much of these U rays can cause cancer# cataracts and %&! damage. 'mall amounts of ozone are constantly being made by the action of sunlight on oxygen. !t the same time# ozone is being broken do$n by natural and unnatural processes that lead to ozone depletion. If this process is greater than the production of ozone then the ozone layer becomes thinner and less effective.

Causes of Ozone Depletion

"zone depletion occurs $hen the natural balance bet$een production and destruction of stratospheric ozone is tipped in favour of destruction. The destruction of the "zone layer is caused due to ( main factor $hich is)

Effects of Ozone Depletion

!n increase in U radiation has been linked to an increase in skin cancer $hich effects fair skinned individuals $ho are at a greater risk than darker skinned people. 'cientists have proven that a (* depletion in ozone causes a 5* increase in cases of skin cancer# the depletion rate has been +* since (,-. and therefore the number of cancer cases has increased rapidly. U radiation has also increased the number of cases of cataracts# $hich affects people/s vision. Immunity to diseases has also been effected due to the increase in U radiation entering the atmosphere. The depletion of ozone and

increase in U rays can also lead to %&! damage# $hich can be catastrophic.

Solutions to Ozone depletion.

The ozone hole is here to stay for about 5. years before the ozone levels $ill start to return to their normal levels. !ny ozone that $e could artificially add $ould most likely be destroyed and $ould not help our problem in the long run. ! different approach is to destroy the 0102s $hen they are in the troposphere $ith high3po$ered infrared lasers located on mountainsides. !nother possible plan is to dump about 5.#... tons of ethane or propane into the !ntarctic stratosphere each spring. The chemicals $ould transform active ozone3depleting chlorine into non3ozone depleting hydrochloride. 4o$ever# there are no official plans to try to fix the ozone hole in the !ntarctic because $e don2t kno$ enough about stratospheric mechanics to do so. 5y trying to fix the problem $e might make it $orse.

6lobal $arming is gradual increase in the overall temperature of earth atmosphere generally attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increase level of carbon dioxide#010

6reenhouse 6ases Carbon dioxide combustion of solid $aste# fossil fuels 7oil# natural gas# and coal8# and $ood and $ood products Methane ) production and transport of coal# natural gas# and oil. 9ethane emissions also result from the decomposition of organic $astes in municipal solid $aste landfills# and the raising of livestock. Nitrous oxide agricultural and industrial activities# as $ell as during combustion of solid $aste and fossil fuels.

 hydrofluorocarbons 7410s8# perfluorocarbons 7:10s8# and sulfur hexafluoride 7'1+8#

0ut your utility bills by purchasing energy3efficient appliances# fixtures# and other home e;uipment and products. The average house is responsible for more air pollution and carbon dioxide emissions than is the average car.

<ole of Energy

Emissions 5y 'ector