Ozone Depletion: Understanding the Destruction of the Ozone Layer and Its Consequences, Slides of Biology

Download Ozone Depletion: Understanding the Destruction of the Ozone Layer and Its Consequences and more Slides Biology in PDF only on Docsity! Ozone Depletion Assimilated GOME total ozone 40-11-98 12h KNMI/ESA BHEeEBHABHOUABAaBABLEH OH <150 175 200 225 2h0 27h 800 8S BHO 75400 ah 4D 475 > S00DU Docsity .com Protest against ozone depletion Docsity.com Exosphere t——» 400 km altinde Thermosphere 4-200 kn Mesosphere ———® 30kn Stratosphere ——1 40 km Troposphere ———+ 0kn rareshaenaie tneeescecaeeceeta aoe akan a Seemann Rececerma anne EE cs eae Rete tet a ee Poa A Papo emer I Poems Rm ae stan seca! Formation of ozone layer O2 + sunlight  O + O O + O2  O3 Docsity.com — 3. Breakdown products gee Mace destroy Ozone. og prs 2. Sunlight breaks down CFC’'s in the stratosphere. 4. Scientists send up balloons to see where 1. Factories and homes all the ozone’s gone spew out CFC’s. Health • Sunburn, eye diseases, skin cancer. • Reduce our immune system  other diseases Docsity.com Food supply • Reduce photosynthesis - crops affected. • Kills plankton  fish ↓ Docsity.com Air pollution • Forming photochemical smog Docsity.com 1. How do scientists monitor the ozone level in the stratosphere? Are the measurements accurate? Monitoring a. 1970s - 67 measuring stations at ground level - uneven distribution - too short to identify statistically significant trends. - calculations contain inherent uncertainties  incomplete scientific description built in the computer programme. b. 1979 - Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer on satellites (TOMS) - global data available Docsity.com 2. How serious is the problem Of ozone depletion? Seriousness of ozone depletion: 1992 - average ozone concentration is 2-3% lower than before Northern parts of Europe and Canada 20% lower in 93 winter Antarctic - 50-90% lower every winter Docsity.com 3. Are there any proofs that CFCs cause the depletion of ozone? Chlorine monoxide which is an intermediate formed in the destruction of ozone. Docsity.com 5. Will the Montreal Protocol save the ozone layer? Montreal Protocol -- came too late -- countries which had signed the Protocol had not taken any immediate and practical action. -- the chemicals already produced will continue to seep into the atmosphere and attack the ozone layer. -- Many countries refused to cut down the use of CFCs (e.g. China / India) unless they get some financial help in meeting their demand. Docsity.com 6. What do you think make policy makers sign the Montreal Protocol? Public pressure because of growing public, scientific and political concern. Docsity.com 7. Why are there exceptions for developing countries for the Protocol? Exceptions for developing countries - because they do not have the technology to switch to alternatives, refuse to sign the protocol. - to encourage them to participate in the protocol. - growing domestic needs and potential markets for CFCs. Docsity.com 10. Other than stopping CFC production, what other remedial work should be done? Are there any obstacles to these? Other remedial work - to develop systems for recovery & recycling the chemicals already used. Obstacles - technical challenge, diplomatic challenge Docsity.com 11. What are the alternatives for CFCs? Are they expensive? Who will promote the use of these alternatives? Alternatives for CFCs - ammonia, propane, water - cheap because abundant and not patented - scientists and business which foresee the advantage of using such alternatives (energy saving, cheap), but not chemical companies Docsity.com 12. Are there any relationships between the Greenhouse Effect and ozone depletion? Similarities between GHE and Ozone Depletion issue - long-term environmental impact which affect future generations, e.g. food supply - prediction of future impact involves scientific uncertainties - raise the world temperature (global warming) Docsity.com