Main Findings
Nothern Hemisphere Temperatures
Causes of Ozone Layer Depletion
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)-
Chlorofluorocarbons, also known as CFCs, were invented by Thomas Midgley in the 1920s. Originally used as a cooling device, CFCs are part of a group of compounds called haloalkanes. Haloalkanes are chemical compounds that replaces hydrogen atoms with halogen atoms. CFCs are a mixed compound of haloalkanes, which is mainly responsible of ozone depletion in the ozone layer. It is a chlorine-containing source gas, which contains fluorine and carbon as well as chlorine.
For many years, chlorofluorocarbons were used in a variety of industrial and household appliances. They were used in freezers and air conditioners as a cooling device, as well as many other appliances, such as aerosol spray propellants. This chemical compound seemed amazingly useful, until later, when people found out that CFCs were actually harmful to the environment. The way that these compounds partially cause the depletion of the ozone layer is when they come in contact with ultraviolet rays from the sun, a chemical reaction occurs where the gases release chlorine atoms. These atoms then go on a process called a catalyze ozone destruction, where the atoms can break down tens of thousands of ozone molecules in the ozone layer, mainly in the lower stratosphere.
Again, human activities are the cause of this worldwide issue.
CFCs (parts per trillion)
The ozone layer is being destroyed slowly, components disappearing one at a time. Soon, the rate of increasing temperatures will intensify. The things people take for granted may not be there in the future. If the government and people do not take immediate actions, the negative impacts to the environment will be immense. However, people can individually slow down the process of ozone layer depletion, but as always, some will not. Every action will affect the future of human beings and their descendants. Ozone layer depletion may be stopped, or may be sped up. The outcome of the future is all based on the decisions that human beings make.
The main cause of ozone layer depletion is CFCs, which are chemical compounds that react to the sunlight. They release chlorine atoms that can attract and destroy up to tens of thousands of ozone molecules in the ozone layer. With less of the ozone layer, skin cancer and eye damage can be caused by the extra sunlight reaching the Earth's surface. Melting of ice caps is another shocking consequence of ozone layer depletion. However, if the government and people of every nation helps stop this issue, then the consequences of it can be prevented, and there would be a much healthier environment for the future.
Effects of Ozone Layer Depletion
One effect of the ozone layer depletion includes global warming. Global warming, a very serious issue, is the increase of heating of the Earth. With the temperatures steadily going up, the aftermath is even more devastating. The consequences of this include the melting of ice caps and glaciers, more droughts and storms, stronger hurricanes, and abnormal weather conditions. The components of the ozone layer are being broken down, leaving the Earth with direct contact of the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays and heat.
With less of the ozone layer, there are more ultraviolet rays that reach the Earth. The more contact with the harmful rays can cause serious problems for human health. For example, skin cancer and damage to the eyes are more likely to occur. Also, with the melting ice caps, more sunlight is absorbed by the water, and the temperatures increase even more.
The melting of ice caps is another problem. According to Al Gore, in Antarctica, the thickness of ice caps became 40% thinner in the past 40 years. As said before, more sunlight is absorbed from the ocean water. In addition, soon the ice caps will disappear altogether, and the sea level will rise immensely. Risen waters from the oceans would overflow on to the surface, flood the cities, destroy crops in farmlands. Thousands of lives could be lost in the process.
Humans aren't the only ones that are suffering from these effects. The polar bear population, once stable, is now slowly decreasing. With the melting ice caps, polar bears are forced to swim longer distances to a safe area of ice. Because of this, polar bears are drowning one by one, and soon, the polar bear will be an endangered species. This shows how devastating and serious the depletion of the ozone layer is, and why it should be stopped.
Solutions to Ozone Layer Depletion
Despite the damage already done to the environment, the government is able to stop this dilemma. The government has the power to enforce laws to save the environment. For example, products containing CFCs could be banned from use. Also, international agreements between countries could be established to stop the production of these CFC-containing products. For example, in the Montreal Protocol, more than 30 nations worldwide have agreed to stop and ban the use and production of CFCs.
Although it may not seem much, every personal individual can also help stop this. Families could make sure that household appliances did not have any trace of CFCs in them. Similarly, people can check to see if the products they buy contain any CFCs in them. Companies can also find substitutes for CFCs, and people are becoming more aware of the problem.
However, although every nation is aware of the consequences of the depletion of the ozone layer, some nations are choosing to continue the use and production of CFCs. In the future, every nation must work together to stop this issue. Not only this, but even if all production and use of CFCs are stopped, there is no way to get rid of the chemical compounds already in the atmosphere, and it will take at least a century for them to completely disappear. On the other hand, after a hundred years or so, the ozone layer will repair itself to its normal state.
