The Issue of Ozone Layer Depletion
By: Kendall Lee
Located in the stratosphere lies the protective ozone layer, which acts as a barrier between UltraViolet rays emitted from the sun and Earth’s surface. Ozone is a gas made up of three oxygen atoms that work together and absorb UV light in the atmosphere. The discovery that the ozone layer had begun depleting was first brought to attention in 1970 by a chemist named Paul Crutzen. Crutzen discovered that nitrogen oxide in the atmosphere would attach itself to the three molecules of ozone and remove a molecule, which overtime began destroying the barrier. An additional discovery was made in 1974 by chemists Mario Molina and F. Sherwood Rowland, who realized that chlorofluorocarbon coming from Earth gases shared a role in the destruction.
Chlorofluorocarbon gases are manufactured gases composed of chlorine, fluorine, and carbon. Before their banishment, these gases were used as refrigerants in cooling systems, propellants in spray paint cans, and elements in fire extinguishers. Although the warnings by the chemists lead to minor restrictions of Chlorofluorocarbon, no real action was taken until 1985, when the dramatic depletion of the ozone layer was noticed specifically over the Antarctic. This became known as the “ozone hole,” which occured in the Antarctic due to its extremely low temperature and its polar stratospheric clouds that promote damage from the gases.
As awareness spread, chlorofluorocarbon gases were slowly phased out by a treaty called the Montreal Protocol, and by 2005 their usage had depleted by roughly 90-95 percent. The alternatives that replaced the gases were organic molecules called hydrofluorocarbons, which are used as refrigerants for many air conditioning systems today. Unfortunately, this replacement isn’t entirely an effective solution because Like CFCs, HFCs are greenhouse gases that are climatically damaging and long lived. Although they don’t attack the ozone layer HFCs have a higher potential for fueling global warming than CO2. Thankfully more and more developments are trying to phase out hydrofluorocarbon and replace it with less harmful substances such as hydrocarbons and ammonia.
The reason that all of this is so important is that without the ozone layer, all the inhabitants on Earth would die. For starters, plants would completely lose their ability to function through photosynthesis as a result of the overpowering radiation from the sun. The wiping out of plants would quickly collapse the food chain and each organism would eventually starve. Even if the ozone layer was simply damaged excessively and not necessarily gone, the sun’s ultraviolet rays would increase skin cancer, cataracts in eyes that cause blindness, and weaken immune systems. We must keep our ozone layer healthy by completely refraining from use of damaging gases because it plays a vital role in supporting life itself on Earth.
Questions:
- Do you think harmful gases should simply be phased out for convenience or completely banished all at once?
2. What is the current status of the ozone layer and what can we expect for it in the future?
3. How do the issues with the ozone layer and global warming relate?
Sources:
29 comments:
The current status of the ozone layer is that it will continue to protect his from UV radiation to not only keep us safe but to protect the whole planet from extinction. I think what we expect the ozone layer to be in the future is to continue and protect from skin cancer, cataracts, weak immune system and the protection of all species on earth. I would very much not like to die that early due to the ozone disappearing and all life on earth dying off.
Due to the scale of how dangerous harmful gases, I believe that harmful gases should be completely banished all at once. However, banishing them all at once in reality is a hard task although I believe it is a more effective method than “simply phasing out for convenience”. The ozone layer is currently still protecting us from U.V rays, but we need to take caution because the layer is depleting due to anthropogenic activities. Global warming and ozone layer issues relate because it is all due to the releasing of gases into the atmosphere. Humans have abused the protection of the ozone layer and have increased the temperatures of the earth because of the amount of industries that require the release of harmful gases.
Nowadays, the ozone hole is significantly smaller and the ozone layer with hopefully protects for years to come. As for the removal of harmful gases , it depends on how much humans use the gas in their everyday lives and if a viable option to replace it is available. If the economy won't collapse from doing so, I see no reason why harmful gases can't be banned immediately.
I think the adverse effects of CFCs require that we completely banish the chemicals from our industries. They provide no significant benefits to industry or us as consumers so removing them from use is definitely good. Most reports have shown that the large hole in the ozone layers has slowed in growth yet the ozone layer is still being slowly damaged by the products of industry.
It is evident that damage to the ozone layer will be absolutely devastating for the earth's health. Although the gasses that damage the ozone layer should be eradicated as quickly as possible, it is unreasonable to expect an immediate change. However, it is about time that stricter regulations on the release of these gasses is placed on large corporations. Yes, these regulations may damage the prosperity of large companies in terms of profit-making, but it is the duty of corporations to look out for the long term health of their planet as well. In the modern era, however, environmentally-conscious actions have become very marketable for companies, and can even potentially lead to an increase in profits.
With the release of harmful gases into the Ozone layer rising everyday it is becoming very dangerous. These greenhouse gases are strong insulators so if the layer gets to thick with these gases global temperatures will skyrocket. This can lead to melting ice caps and icebergs. It is going to be extremely difficult to reduce the amount of harmful gases that is being emitted into the air and later being collected in the Ozone layer. It will be especially difficult because humanity’s damage has gone so far that it is almost un reversible. But although there is little hope, we can still stop harming the environment more than we have already by the global governments regulating the production and releasing of these harmful gasses. With todays mass media, and almost everyone in the world knowing what is happening in our world, there should be no excuse for dumping out harmful chemicals into the environment.
I did not know before that the damage to the ozone layer could have such devastating effects on the earth and the people living on it. It should definitely be protected and we need to take better precautions in order to save it. I think the harmful gases should be phased out slowly because it is known that many people and businesses rely on them. If they are taken out all at once it could cause violence from the people who do not support it. As they are removed we should be trying to find alternatives for the gases. We need the ozone layer to protect us from things such as skin cancer and from keeping it from worsening global warming.
Before reading this article I didn’t know that the ozone layer was in danger. I believe that if it is causing harm it should be completely banished all at once. The ozone layer is currently protecting us from the U.V. ray and we expect it to protect us from getting skin cancer, weak immune system, and etc. in the future. The two relate because of the releasing of gases into the atmosphere. We have abandoned the earth and the use of ozone layer, which caused the harmful gases to be released.
I believe that we need to work to fix the current problems that are effecting our ozone layer. Restricting the access that certain corporations have to fossil fuels or implementing laws to help stop the use of specific fossil fuels can help to reduce the effects that are happening on our ozone layer. The ozone layer as of right now is not in a good condition and as of right now it hasn’t been showing signs of getting any better, We as a humans need to work internationally to try and fix the problems that are occurring. The ozone layer protects the Earth from UV rays. Without it our planet raises in temperature and that is why global warming is happening as of right now.
I think the harmful chemicals should be removed as quickly as possible. Some of them offer no benefits anywhere and can easily be banned. However, the impact on the economy must be taken into account. For this reason, the chemicals should be replaced with more sustainable options in order to ensure that the benefits of these chemicals are available without harming the ozone as much. The damage to the ozone layer has slowed down, but it is still important to protect it since it protects us from harmful UV radiation.
In an idea world, all harmful gases would be banished at once, but since laws, restrictions, and the need for convenience overpower our short term worries, simply banishing then would be quite difficult. Another thing that would be difficult is figuring out what exactly to replace these chemicals with. The replacement would have to serve the same function, perform in a similar way, and have similar economic and political effects. It is hard to meet all these criteria, which is why it would be so difficult to just get rid of the chemicals we already are so used to using.
Although banning all harmful gases would allow a healthy ozone layer, I believe that if will never happen. In the world we live in today, harmful gases are used for everyday use such as gas powered cars, cigarette lighters, and manufacturing machinery. Unfortunately, it will be nearly impossible to stop using the gases that we heavily rely on, no matter how harmful it is. The current status of the ozone layer is that it absorbs UV light. The ozone layer will certainly protect us longer if harmful gases are regulated.
I think that harmful gases should be banished completely at some point. Alternatives energy sources should be taken into consideration, as well. The thought of the ozone layer further depleting and negatively affecting all life on Earth is terrifying. Although the ozone layer is on track to heal completely, we cannot go back to releasing more gases that affect the layer. Chlorofluorocarbons and other potent greenhouse gases both contribute to global warming and destroy her ozone layer.
Quite honestly I find it unlikely for all harmful gases to be banished all at once due to our current day everyday actions that are extremely harmful to the environment. Currently, the ozone layer is on its way back to a healthy state, but we need to do everything in our power to make sure it stays that way too. If we replenish it just to destroy it again, all our hard work and dedication would mean absolutely nothing at all. Both global warming and the depletion of the ozone layer are related in the fact that we are the central reason for the destruction of both. Global warming is a result of our toxic release of greenhouse gases which, as a result, weaken our ozone layer. In the end, the problem is clear: we need to be better.
There is currently a large hole in the ozone layer, which is estimated to be about 8.83 million square miles. The causes of this ozone depletion are human activities that release halogen source gases. However, scientists predict that the Ozone hole is recovering, and that by the hole in the Ozone layer will heal completely by the year 2030 in the Northern hemisphere, and 2060 in the Southern hemisphere.
In theory banishing all harmful gases at once would be best for the well being of our environment. However, that is not all possible due to the impact banishing these gases will have on the economy. A sudden ban would cause many companies to have a negative gross profit margin or a decrease in stock market value. On the other hand, slowly decreasing the sales of harmful gases through periodic restrictions would help the company/economy adjust while saving the environment. According to the EPA, after the implementation of the Montreal Protocol Treaty, as Kendall mentioned, the concentration of harmful gases has decreased and thus the Ozone level is expected to completely recover by the middle of the 21st century. The issues with the ozone layer and global warming relate because they are both human made consequences that harm and damage our environment. Society is both attempting to combat both problems to ensure a safe future on our planet.
The ozone hole and global warming are not the identical thing, and neither is the principal reason of the other. The ozone gap is an vicinity in the stratosphere above Antarctica the place chlorine and bromine gases from human-produced chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons have destroyed ozone molecules. Global warming is the upward jostle in common global floor temperature caused particularly by way of the build-up of human-produced greenhouses gases, in general carbon dioxide and methane, which lure warmth in the lower stages of the atmosphere. There are some connections between the two phenomena. For example, the CFCs that spoil ozone are also potent greenhouse gases, even though they are present in such small concentrations in the ecosystem (several hundred components per trillion, compared to numerous hundred parts per million for carbon dioxide) that they are considered a minor participant in greenhouse warming. CFCs account for about 13% of the complete energy absorbed by means of human-produced greenhouse gases.
I think that if a chemical has a large negative impact on the environment it should be completely banished at once. I does not make sense to continue to allow such chemicals to be used. I think that in the future we may be able to prevent any further damage to the ozone layer as there is general consensus around that world that any damage to ozone layer can have detrimental impacts to life because UV radiation has the ability to damage DNA. Any damage to DNA would then mean that crops would not grow properly and lead to skin cancers on humans.
I think harmful chemicals should be banish as quick as possible. However, it’s nearly impossible to make that happen. The ozone layer is currently declining due to human activities that causes chlorofluorocarbon. Global warming is predicted to have a modest impact on the Antarctic ozone hole. The chlorine gases in the lower stratosphere interact with tiny cloud particles that form at extremely cold temperatures.
It is not plausible to say that we should banish all harmful gases at once but rather in steps. However, there should be appropriate rules and laws that prohibit the use of harmful chemicals if it harms the environment in a global scale. Right now the ozone is much smaller than it was a few years ago which causes many concerns for living organisms. The ozone layer will continue to get smaller and smaller if we don’t do anything about it. The ozone layer protects from harmful U.V. rays and allows plants to go through photosynthesis. The earth will continue to get hotter and hotter if the ozone layer is depleted because there will be not layer that prevents the rays. This will cause many species to die off which may lead to mass extinctions.
While I believe that it would save the ozone by completely cutting out all harmful gases immediately, this is not a realistic solution. The life we haven now is too dependent on the production that causes harmful gases to be emitted into the atmosphere. However, this is not a reason to give up. I think we should start coming up with ways to reduce the amount of harmful gases we are producing to the ozone layer before it is too late. The Ozone layer is currently smaller and thinner than it was a few decades ago, but it is not completely destroyed yet. I think that if we keep up the current conditions and practices we have now, the ozone layer will be completely destroyed within the next several decades. However, if we continue to embrace the new projects and alternatives that have been brought to light in recent years, we can keep the ozone layer from being destroyed and it will only have a small amount of additional damage in the future. The thinning of the ozone layer and global warming go hand-in-hand because they are both caused by the over production of fossil fuels and other products that emit harmful chemicals and gases into the air. They both contribute to the rise in recent temperatures around the globe. They are extremely detrimental if we do not find solutions to them in the next few decades.
I think that cutting out harmful gases is a solution, but I don't necessarily think that it will actually solve the solution. There's a reason that I think this, I think getting society to cut out these gases will be incredibly difficult. Our society relies on these gases too much so getting everybody to abide by these rules will be very difficult. That saddens me so much though, because I really truly want to believe that we can save the ozone layer. I think that if we pass these regulations right now we may have a chance, but again, sadly I just don't see that happening any time soon. Hopefully it does though, because if it doesn't society will do irreversible damage.
I think the that harmful gases should be phased out slowly. The ozone layer is slowly getting depleted and this is going to prove harmful conditions for us. I think that we should raise awareness to this issue. because before reading this article, I did not know that the ozone layer was in such critical condition. The weakening ozone layer allows more of the sun’s harmful rays to pass through and hit the earth. This leads to overall climate change and global warming which is a serious issue that we have only jsut started noticing the environmental impact of. I think that the depleting ozone layer should be a worldwide issue that everyone needs to pay attention to and change their lifestyle to prevent further damage.
I believe that taking out these harmful gases is a good thing way to solve the problem. Unfortunately, people won’t be able to get rid of these gases easily. Our people can not take out these gases in an instant because they use it in their daily lives. If we do not fix this issue the ozone layer will continue to shrink and plants won’t be able to perform photosynthesis. If the can’t perform photosynthesis then life won’t be able to thrive. The earth will get hot, and lead to an extinction of animal and plant species.
Though getting rid of all of these harmful gases at once would be the best option, phasing them out for convenience is the more realistic of the two options. By phasing them out scientists would be able to develop new and eco friendly alternatives without fearing the pressure they would no doubt receive if all the harmful gases were banned at once. The current state of the ozone layer is that it is still able to protect the Earth and its organisms from eh sun’s UV rays and maintain stability in the ecosystems but it is being damaged by harmful gases and will eventually be unable to function if efforts are not made to save it. The ozone hole and global warming are similar in that greenhouse gases are the cause of both these events.
I feel the many people would like to banish harmful gases, but I personally think that we should phase them out for convenience. Sometimes getting rid of something can cause new problems that you never knew about, so I fee like if we banks them completely new problems may arise. If phasing it out will fix the current situation without adding new ones, then it is the best option. While the current state of the ozone has escalated to a harmful level, it is still there to protect the Earth from UV rays entering our atmosphere so I feel like it is still beneficial. The ozone hole is the main areas of damage in the ozone layer and has caused the most harm because the sun's rays are passing through and creating an coverall increase in global temperature, which has affected many habitats around the world such as the polar regions. I feel that the ozone layer and the harmful hole should be brought to everyone's attention because we need to protect the habitats and organisms we already have on this Earth.
I believe that harmful gases should be phased out because it is far more realistic. Although the effectiveness of banishing all harmful gases at once is much more effective I am not sure all companies will be willing to do this.
Issues with the ozone layer directly relate to global warming. The destruction of the ozone layer can lead to global warming
In an ideal world, I feel that harmful gases should be banned; however, knowing human capitalist nature, I know that this feat is extremely difficult if not impossible to agree upon. This is because we have seen that, sometimes, people put the betterment of themselves and their own wellbeing before the needs of the community as well as the concern for the environment. Furthermore, the issues regarding global warming as well as those of the ozone layer couple together as they are both caused by humans through anthropogenic activities such as the emission of carbon in the atmosphere. We must help prevent the total depletion of the ozone layer as it protects us from some of them sun’s harmful rays.
I think the easiest thing to do would be to slowly phase out the gases just because it would probably allow less backlash from people. It seems like right now the ozone layer isn’t in the best place just because there’s a big gap in it and it’s growing weaker with time. We can probably expect it to keep weakening from now on as long as we keep doing the same stuff we always do. The weaker the ozone layer the more the earth heats up.
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