, Research Paper

Introduction

In the beginning adult male lived merely and harmoniously with Earth. However, as clip progressed world & # 8217 ; s thirst for cognition and more economical ways of making things led to technological progresss. These progresss, in bend, led to the industrial revolution, the innovation of the car, and growing of the car industry. Though doing life on Earth more comfy, these industries and innovations emitted harmful gases into the Earth & # 8217 ; s atmosphere. Damage to the Earth & # 8217 ; s ozone bed began to happen as the degrees of these gases in the ambiance increased. The depletion of the Earth & # 8217 ; s ozone and the resulting nursery consequence are now endangering the ability of Earth to prolong civilisation as world knows it today.

THE OZONE DEFINED

Ozone is a dark blue gas which is extremely reactive. It & # 8217 ; s triatomic molecular composing ( O3 ) is unlike normal O as it has an excess O atom in each molecule and a different atomic agreement. ( Jones et al.303-304 ) In the Earth & # 8217 ; s upper ambiance, called the stratosphere, O3 is produced when the Sun & # 8217 ; s UV beams act on normal O in the air. Widening from 10 kilometres ( kilometer ) to 50 kilometers above the Earth, the stratosphere has the highest concentration of ozone. ( EPA, Ozone vs. Altitude 1 ) This is what is usually known as the & # 8220 ; ozone bed & # 8221 ; . The ozone bed serves a critical intent in the stratosphere as it blocks out harmful UV beams. Ozone besides occurs in lower sums in the troposphere, which is the atmospheric bed lying between the Earth & # 8217 ; s surface and the stratosphere. Known at this height as smog, this ozone forms when the Sun & # 8217 ; s UV beams work stoppage O which has mixed with industrial or car pollutants. ( EPA, Ozone Science 1 )

Menace TO THE OZONE

Man-made chemicals, fossil fuels, industrial wastes, and car exhaust all pose a menace to the Earth & # 8217 ; s ozone. Chlorofluorocarbons ( CFCs ) are semisynthetic substances which, for more than 50 old ages, were considered to be miracle substances because they were virtually non-toxic, nonflammable, and cheap to bring forth. ( EPA, Ozone Science 1-2 ) These Chlorofluorocarbons were used as dissolvers, refrigerants, aerosol propellents, and to blow froth plastics. Due to their stable nature, CFCs remained integral for long periods of clip in the ambiance. Over clip, air currents have transported them into the stratosphere where they have been subjected to high degrees of radiation. The radiation causes the Chlorofluorocarbons to interrupt down and let go of Cl. Harmonizing to the National Safety Council & # 8217 ; s Environmental Health Center, & # 8220 ; A individual Cl atom can destruct 1000s of ozone molecules before it is finally neutralized. & # 8221 ; ( 3 ) Since the interruption down of Chlorofluorocarbons is insistent in nature it has the potency of badly consuming stratospheric ozone.

Nitrogen oxides and methane are besides compounds which adversely affect the stratosphere & # 8217 ; s ozone. Nitrogen compounds are used in agricultural fertilisers wheras azotic oxide is produced by burning. Methane is produced by a biological reaction between bacteriums and organic affair. It is given off by cattles, fens, landfills, and refuse mopess. ( Schneider 21, 101 ) Both substances are stable and react similar to CFCs in the stratosphere to consume the ozone.

Fossil fuels are the universe & # 8217 ; s largest energy beginning. They are of course happening C or hydrocarbon fuels including oil, coal, and natural gas. These fuels are used to heat places and concerns every bit good as power industrial equipment and cars. One of the endproducts of the burning of these fuels is carbon dioxide ( CO2 ) . Carbon dioxide and the other by-products of firing fossil fuels contribute to the build-up of ozone or smog in the troposphere. High degrees of smog over urban countries such as Los Angeles can hold damaging effects on worlds and works life. Carbon dioxide has the ability to absorb high sums of infrared energy, therefore bring forthing heat, and thereby warming the ambiance. ( Schneider 13-35 ) Attempts to diminish smog are besides increasing the sum of harmful gases in the upper ambiance. An article in the newspaper citing the EPA stated that, & # 8220 ; the catalytic convertor, designed to scour smog out of car fumes, is spiting nursery gases from tailpipes into the upper ambiance. The convertors, while interrupting down smog-causing N and O from auto fumes, are besides rearranging the compounds to organize azotic oxide? .which is more than 300 times more powerful than C dioxide. & # 8221 ; ( Lansing State Journal A1 )

THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT

The nursery consequence is the gradual rise of the lower ambiance & # 8217 ; s air temperature due to an accretion of nursery gases. These gases, Chlorofluorocarbons, CO2, methane, azotic oxide, and ozone, organize an unseeable ceiling in the troposphere. This ceiling absorbs harmful radiation from the Sun and prevents the loss of energy while leting seeable visible radiation to come in. This procedure helps to keep a steady temperature on the Earth. ( Jones et al. 192 )

Progresss in engineering, increased industrialisation, and the proliferation of cars has led to an unreal build-up of nursery gases in the ambiance. The cutting of the ozone bed in the stratosphere has allowed more harmful UV radiation to come in the upper atmosphere. The surfeit of these gases, peculiarly CO2, in the lower ambiance, has led to increased soaking up of infrared radiation. All of these alterations are lending to an change in the Earth & # 8217 ; s clime. & # 8220 ; In November 1995, 2,500 taking clime scientists announced that the planet is warming because all the emanations from coal and oil combustion are pin downing in more of the Sun & # 8217 ; s heat than is normal for our clime. Even if that heating is non yet obvious, they warned, it is already bring forthing bizarre and utmost alterations in the conditions. This new period of less stable clime we have entered, is likely to do widespread economic, societal, and environmental dislocation. & # 8221 ; ( Gelbspan 5 )

Consequences OF GLOBAL WARMING

Global heating is already doing major climatic alterations throughout the universe. In 1985 scientists discovered a hole in the stratospheric ozone bed over Antarctica. As reported by NASA, & # 8220 ; New record depression degrees of Antarctic ozone were recorded at the South Pole Station, Antarctica, at the terminal of September and early October 1993, and confirmed by orbiter measuremen

ts.” ( National Safety Council 5 ) It was felt that Chlorofluorocarbons were chiefly responsible for the ozone devastation. Similar depletions were besides found over the Arctic. The attendant addition in temperature has led to the thaw of the polar glaciers. Consequently, sea degrees are lifting and major implosion therapy has started to happen in metropoliss and agricultural countries.

Scientists believe that the current ruinous conditions events associated with El Nino may be associated with planetary heating. ( Gelbspan 143 ) Seashores are being washed off, low lying countries have been flooded out, and twisters have destroyed full towns. Areas which usually experience highly cold winters are sing unseasonably warm conditions. Due to these important conditions alterations husbandmans may hold to exchange to new harvests which are more contributing to the altering clime in their part. Coastal communities will hold to travel inland or hazard being swept out to sea.

Increased wellness jeopardies are happening as a consequence of increased temperatures. Mosquitos transporting diseases such as xanthous febrility are migrating to higher heights. Similarly, increased eruptions of malaria and dandy fever febrility are being reported at higher lifts. Mosquito populations in temperate climes including the United States are making epidemic proportions. & # 8220 ; There is a existent hazard of re-introducing malaria into nonmalarial countries, including parts of Australia, the U.S. , and southern Europe. & # 8221 ; ( Gelbspan 148 ) New eruptions of cholera are happening in countries sing terrible deluging where sewerage has spread into the H2O supply.

Increased UV radiation due to the thinning ozone bed may do harm to worlds and works life. Increased incidences of tegument malignant neoplastic diseases and cataracts are expected. & # 8220 ; Excessive UV exposure has besides been linked to suppression of the immune system, which could do people more likely to contract infective diseases. & # 8221 ; ( Mock 3 ) In add-on, photosynthesis and works metamorphosis may be impaired by the increased UV radiation. Food harvests may be less productive and forest ecosystems may be less healthy.

Since UV radiation can perforate the ocean & # 8217 ; s surface, marine ecosystems are besides at hazard. Higher degrees of UV radiation cause plankton to be less productive. This makes the nutrient concatenation vulnerable as plankton is the lowest nutrient beginning on the concatenation. Scientists have noticed a important lessening in fish and seabird populations. Fish and sea animate beings are migrating to new milieus in hunt of vital H2O temperatures.

Decision

Since the beginning of clip adult male has striven to do life easier. Simple innovations bit by bit led to more sophisticated innovations. Farmers originally used Equus caballuss to plough their Fieldss. Now hi-tech tractors do the work in less than half the clip, therefore increasing the husbandman & # 8217 ; s productiveness and, hopefully, his net incomes. Similarly, the innovation of the car made travel easier and quicker. High velocity jets have farther decreased the sum of clip it takes to travel from one topographic point to another. New technological progresss are being discovered every twenty-four hours. However, each of these innovations emits greenhouse gases into the ambiance.

Technological progresss have non come without a cost. Substances such as Chlorofluorocarbons which were one time viewed as a miracle merchandise have, alternatively, been found to be a deathly compound which threatens our planetary environment. It & # 8217 ; s stable composing made it an first-class substance for many different intents. However, that same stableness allows these same Chlorofluorocarbons to repetitively consume our ozone for the following 100 old ages.

Although scientists are now analyzing the harmful effects of nursery gases and looking for ways to decrease their impact on our environment, the harm has already been done. Unable to work expeditiously and economically without the luxuries and comfortss of advanced engineering, world continues to use them.. Consequently, more pollutants are released into the atmosphere day-to-day. In the interim, research workers madly search for safer ways to power our cars and machinery.

The environment can non wait for our finds. It is already reacting to the injury we have inflicted on it. Our glaciers are runing, our seas are lifting, and our seashores are gnawing off. Plants are deceasing from the UV exposure. Plants and animate beings likewise are migrating to new countries to better their opportunities of endurance. The Earth which sustains us is in demand of loving attention. Unless we heed her call and instantly be given to her lesions, she will be unable to prolong us as she has in the yesteryear. Her really survival, every bit good as our ain, depends on it.

WORKS CITED

Associated Press. & # 8220 ; Smog & # 8217 ; s cut, but at a cost. & # 8221 ; Lansing State Journal 30 May 1998: A1.

Cagin, Seth, and Philip Dray. Between Earth and Sky: how Chlorofluorocarbons changed our universe and

EPA Stratospheric Protection Division. The Effects of Ozone Depletion. 24 Dec.

1997. Online. Netscape Internet. 1 June 1998. Available File transfer protocol: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.epa.gov/ozone/science/effects.html.

EPA Stratospheric Protection Division. Ozone Depletion Process. 20 July 1995.

Online. Netscape Internet. 30 May 1998. Available File transfer protocol: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.epa.gov/ozone/science/process.html

EPA Stratospheric Protection Division. Ozone Science: The Facts Behind the Phaseout..

24 Dec. 1997. Online. Netscape Internet. 28 May 1998. Available File transfer protocol: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.epa.gov/ozone/science/sc_fact.html.

EPA Stratospheric Protection Division Ozone vs. Altitude. 26 Oct. 1995. Online.

Netscape Internet. 28 May 1998. Available File transfer protocol: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.epa.gov/ozone/science/o3alt.html.

Gelbspan, Ross. The Heat is On. New York: Addison-Wesley Publication, 1997.

Jones, Gareth, et Al. Environmental Science. New York: HarperPerennial, 1992.

Mock, Gregory, and Cheryl Simon Silver. & # 8220 ; Atmosphere: conditions for ozone depletion

and clime warming ripen as Cl and nursery gases reach record

concentrations in the atmosphere. & # 8221 ; The 1994 Information Please Environmental Almanac. 1994 erectile dysfunction.

National Safety Council. Ozone Depletion: When Less is non Enough. 1 July 1997.

Online. Netscape Internet. 27 May 1998.

WORKS CITED

Schneider, Stephen H. Global Warming. San Francisco: Sierra Club, 1989.