The Treats of the Ozone Layers
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- Date Submitted: 11/27/2015 03:14 PM
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The Threats of the Ozone Layers
Global warming has been one of the most debated topics in the scientific world for over 50 years now. Climate experts were skeptical of the theory of global warming at first. It took scientists a massive amount time and evidence to finally convince them that industrial emissions were causing damage to the Ozone layer. While the public relation experts for major Industry was able to play down the threat of global warming to the general public.
What is the Ozone Layer?
The earth's atmosphere is divided into several layers, and each layer plays an important role. The first layer extending about 4 miles up from the earth's surface is called the troposphere. Many of our activities like mountain climbing, balloon rides, and smaller aircrafts operate within this region. The next layer, extending about 9-37 miles is called the stratosphere. ‘The ozone layer only makes up 0.00006 percent of the Earth’s atmosphere.”(Dunn, 1989) The ozone layer is mainly found in the lower portion of the stratosphere from approximately 12 to 19 miles above earth, though the thickness varies seasonally and geographically. The ozone layer protects the earth from the suns UV Rays (ultra violet rays). Interestingly, it is also this ultraviolet radiation that forms the ozone in the first place. Ozone is a special form of oxygen, made up of three oxygen atoms rather than the usual two oxygen atoms. It usually forms when some type of radiation or electrical discharge separates the two atoms in an oxygen molecule. If the ozone layer is depleted by human action, the effects on the planet could be catastrophic. The amount of stratospheric ozone overhead on any given day and at any given location varies quite a bit. Because of vertical circulations of air in both the troposphere and the stratosphere, there can be greater or lesser amounts of ozone protecting you from ultraviolet radiation. Also, living at higher elevations exposes people to more UV Rays than at low...
Global warming has been one of the most debated topics in the scientific world for over 50 years now. Climate experts were skeptical of the theory of global warming at first. It took scientists a massive amount time and evidence to finally convince them that industrial emissions were causing damage to the Ozone layer. While the public relation experts for major Industry was able to play down the threat of global warming to the general public.
What is the Ozone Layer?
The earth's atmosphere is divided into several layers, and each layer plays an important role. The first layer extending about 4 miles up from the earth's surface is called the troposphere. Many of our activities like mountain climbing, balloon rides, and smaller aircrafts operate within this region. The next layer, extending about 9-37 miles is called the stratosphere. ‘The ozone layer only makes up 0.00006 percent of the Earth’s atmosphere.”(Dunn, 1989) The ozone layer is mainly found in the lower portion of the stratosphere from approximately 12 to 19 miles above earth, though the thickness varies seasonally and geographically. The ozone layer protects the earth from the suns UV Rays (ultra violet rays). Interestingly, it is also this ultraviolet radiation that forms the ozone in the first place. Ozone is a special form of oxygen, made up of three oxygen atoms rather than the usual two oxygen atoms. It usually forms when some type of radiation or electrical discharge separates the two atoms in an oxygen molecule. If the ozone layer is depleted by human action, the effects on the planet could be catastrophic. The amount of stratospheric ozone overhead on any given day and at any given location varies quite a bit. Because of vertical circulations of air in both the troposphere and the stratosphere, there can be greater or lesser amounts of ozone protecting you from ultraviolet radiation. Also, living at higher elevations exposes people to more UV Rays than at low...