- Nov 19, 2001
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How did they figure out what was depleting the ozone?
- Thread starter ThePresence
- Start date
They can't prove anything really. Many scientists think that it is just a natural stage of the earth's evolution, like the ice age, etc.. they cannot pin it on pollution or whatever.
- Nov 19, 2001
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Well what I just said proposed that they weren't blaming any of that, rather just the earth itself.
Also, I have no clue what any of that is.
Let's go to the BBQ with my JPG in the IRQ of the LLJK for the TFZ open at the GBA in the new TFD right by the XLG.
Chemistry.
Ozone is a toxic, unstable, strong reactive compound with chemical formula O3 (consisting of three oxygen atoms). Ozone is formed when oxygen molecules are separated by a certain form of solar ultraviolet radiation at high altitudes. The individual oxygen atoms combine with oxygen molecules (O + O2 = O3). In the stratosphere about 300 million tons of ozone are produced daily. The ozone layer is the layer in the atmosphere with the highest concentration of ozone, and serves an important biological function: Ozone (O3) absorbs a certain form of ultraviolet radiation from the Sun (UV-B radiation), which cause sunburn, inflammation of cornea, genetic mutations, and skin cancer. It also (more importantly) affects the ecosystem of the oceans. Without the ozone layer the actual life on earth wouldn't have been possible.
Scientists proved through chemistry that ChloroFluroCarbons (CFC's) played an active role in the depletion of ozone (O3) and thus the ozone layer. Since CFC's were being vented to the sky they are one of the causes of the depletion of the ozone layer. CFC's are gasses containing mainly chlorine, fluorine and bromine, used in refrigeration systems, air conditioners, aerosols, solvents and in the production of some types of packaging.
Ozone is a toxic, unstable, strong reactive compound with chemical formula O3 (consisting of three oxygen atoms). Ozone is formed when oxygen molecules are separated by a certain form of solar ultraviolet radiation at high altitudes. The individual oxygen atoms combine with oxygen molecules (O + O2 = O3). In the stratosphere about 300 million tons of ozone are produced daily. The ozone layer is the layer in the atmosphere with the highest concentration of ozone, and serves an important biological function: Ozone (O3) absorbs a certain form of ultraviolet radiation from the Sun (UV-B radiation), which cause sunburn, inflammation of cornea, genetic mutations, and skin cancer. It also (more importantly) affects the ecosystem of the oceans. Without the ozone layer the actual life on earth wouldn't have been possible.
Scientists proved through chemistry that ChloroFluroCarbons (CFC's) played an active role in the depletion of ozone (O3) and thus the ozone layer. Since CFC's were being vented to the sky they are one of the causes of the depletion of the ozone layer. CFC's are gasses containing mainly chlorine, fluorine and bromine, used in refrigeration systems, air conditioners, aerosols, solvents and in the production of some types of packaging.
- Nov 19, 2001
- 27,727
- 16
- 81
- Nov 19, 2001
- 27,727
- 16
- 81
- Nov 19, 2001
- 27,727
- 16
- 81
WHipLAsh13
Golden Member
- Jan 17, 2001
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Other causes are CO (carbon monoxide) gases, which when they reach the unstable, reactive O3 gasses of the ozone layer, they decompose to CO2 (carbon dioxide) and stable diatomic oxygen (O2). While CO2 and O2 are good, they decompose the ozone layer which absorbs the solar radiation. To illustrate my point:
CO(g) + O3(g) -> CO2(g) + O2(g)
CO(g) + O3(g) -> CO2(g) + O2(g)
Amused
Elite Member
- Apr 14, 2001
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They haven't. It's a guess.
FYI, they have never NOT seen a seasonal hole in the ozone layer over the South Pole. What people don't seem to realize (and they would be a LOT more skeptical of these claims if they did know) is that ozone is created by solar radiation. For a couple months each year, there is NO solar radiation hitting the pole. It stands to reason there would be ozone depletion.
And guess what? The observed "hole" grows and shrinks with the seasons.
FYI, they have never NOT seen a seasonal hole in the ozone layer over the South Pole. What people don't seem to realize (and they would be a LOT more skeptical of these claims if they did know) is that ozone is created by solar radiation. For a couple months each year, there is NO solar radiation hitting the pole. It stands to reason there would be ozone depletion.
And guess what? The observed "hole" grows and shrinks with the seasons.
CPA
Elite Member
- Nov 19, 2001
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That's all well and good, but hasn't been proven that the ozone has increased and decreased in size/thickness for thousands of years?
Additionally, hasn't it also been proven that one volcanic eruption produces more ozone-depleting chemicals than CFC containing products ever have? (or am I just thinking about pollution in general?)
dullard
Elite Member
- May 21, 2001
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It isn't CFCs necessarilly, it is anything with a chlorine atom. Thus CFCs aren't the only possible problem. The chemistry that is theorized is a chain reaction where the Cl is the catalyst (specifically the free radical form of Cl). The reaction looks good on paper, and in laboratory tests it is true. As far as I know though, there isn't any good proof that it can work at pressures and temperatures of the upper atmosphere. So people have proposed that it works only on the surface of ice crystals, and it just keeps getting more complex - to a point where no one has been able to prove that it is actually occuring.
Why are CFCs blamed more than other chemicals? CFCs are great to work with since they are so stable. Unfortunately their stablity led to their blame on the ozone. Other less stable molecules break down before reaching the ozone layer and thus people assume don't cause a problem. The CFCs stay intact and can freely reach the ozone layer.
Cliff notes: works in the lab, unknown if it works in upper atmosphere, but it is the best guess of scientists right now.
Why are CFCs blamed more than other chemicals? CFCs are great to work with since they are so stable. Unfortunately their stablity led to their blame on the ozone. Other less stable molecules break down before reaching the ozone layer and thus people assume don't cause a problem. The CFCs stay intact and can freely reach the ozone layer.
Cliff notes: works in the lab, unknown if it works in upper atmosphere, but it is the best guess of scientists right now.
How about (light (UV,IR or optical) Spectroscopy from space. At the bery least the concentration of Ozone is detectable with that. Now once they realize that the conc. is sinking it is safe to assume further experiments were conducted in the ozone layer (by planes or balloons) to investigate what was causing it
Could be. I just know what I've been tought and what I can find on my own. I never said they were the only cause, and if they were a cause at all. Just that they have been proven (in a laboratory) to deplete O3.... Best bet is to stop using them altogether. One of those better-safe-than-sorry things I guess...
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