A Japanese study has found that the size of the ozone hole is nearing its largest stize and may actually disappear by 2050. Wow, that's good news.
This is an example of how the world can come together to solve a problem. In the late 80's the world basically agreed to stop using ozone depleting compounds such as the infamous CFC's (Cloroflourocarbons).
And now for some good science content on CFC's for you.
CFC's are a class of synthetic chemicals that are odorless, non toxic, non flammable, and most importantly inert (meaning they don't react easily with anything else). This made it a popular choice for things such as a propellant in aerosal cans, refrigerants in air conditioners and refrigerators, and use in the manufacture of foam packaging.
Want to know how they destroy the ozone layer? Well, here ya go.
CFC's, when released into the atmosphere, slowly travel into the stratosphere. The stratosphere is the second lowest layer of the atmosphere, as you can see in this figure.
There, when hit by UV light from the Sun, the CFC's react with ozone (O3) to release free chlorine atoms and molecular oxygen (O2). Obviously this reaction destroys ozone, thus destroying the ozone layer. Just as bad, the chlorine that remains in the air can destroy even more ozone. Even worse, CFC's can stay in the air for roughly 100 years!
So, you now know why you see the label "contains no CFC's" on most aerosal cans.
Tags: Ozone, CFC's
3 comments:
cool. Now if we could only reach some common ground on global warming. BTW do you think that is happening?
It's pretty hard to deny that global warming is happening. We have definitive records showing that it is. In my mind that's not the issue. The issue is three fold in my mind.
1. How fast global warming actually taking place.
--Reports indicate that we're warming the planet about one degree fahrenheit every 100 years. Alone, that doesn't seem all that fast. However, many species are very temperature sensitive. About a year ago, I wrote a paper on how increased temperatures affect frog reproduction in south america. Short story of it, there was an effect. If global warming is actually affecting species around the world yet is still up in the air. There are those that insist it is. However, you can't just look at one or even 10 years in a specific example. That's where the problem is.
As for my personal opinion? I don't think we're seeing severe impacts yet, but we will soon.
2. How will global warming effect the earth's habitats, biomes, species, etc.
--I guess I've kind of answered this one already. Bottom line is that we really don't know.
3. What can we do about it.
I think this one's pretty obvious...reduce our pollution of the atmosphere by Earth's rapidly growing population.
ur a bunch of liberal pussies, cfc's smell great and ebb the tides of radical islam. and im god damn cold, a little global warming will do us all a little good. Who cares about the tigers and the fish and stuff, I gots to get me my hummer. I trust my health in the hands of corporate america, they aint out to make a profit at my expense
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