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Ozone Depletion. LaQue Nicholas Lirieth Amat. Ozone Friend or Foe ?. Ozone is gas that occurs in Earth’s upper atmosphere and at ground level. Can be good or bad Depends on its location on earth’s layers Affects almost all species on earth . Ozone Layers.
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Ozone Depletion LaQue Nicholas Lirieth Amat
Ozone Friend or Foe? Ozone is gas that occurs in Earth’s upper atmosphere and at ground level. Can be good or bad Depends on its location on earth’s layers Affects almost all species on earth
Ozone Layers Troposphere (“Bad” Ozone) Stratosphere (“Good” Ozone) • Layer closest to Earth’s surface • Extends about 6miles up • Air pollutant • Harmful to breathe • Damages crops, trees, and other vegetation • Second layer of ozone • Extends upwards from about 6 to 30 miles • Protects life on Earth from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, which are harmful
Good Ozone • ____ _________ __ ___ ____ _________ • ____ __ _____ _________ __________ • ___ __ ________ _______ ______ ____ _____________ ________ __________ ___ _______ ___________ • ________ • _____ _________ _________ ____ _ _____ ___ __ ___ ____ • __ _____ _________ __ _____ ____ • __ ____ __ _____ __ ____ ______ _________ ___ ________ ______ _______ • __ ____ ______ _________ _____ • Being destroyed by man – made chemicals • Known as ozone depleting substances • Used in coolants, foaming agents, fire extinguishers, solvents, pesticides, and aerosol propellants • Depletion • Mostly affecting Antarctica with a large gap over it
Depletion of Good Ozone • Good ozone is being depleted by CFCs called chlorofluorocarbons. • The chlorine atom separates from the CFC compound and becomes a magnet for an ozone molecule. • One chlorine atom can destroy up to 100,000 good ozone molecules.
Can cause UV radiations to reach Earth Can lead to cases of skin cancer, cataracts, and impaired immune systems Can also damage sensitive crops Also causing global warming Shrinking artic ices Rising sea level Depletion of Good Ozone
Bad Ozone • Not emitted into the air directly • Also a major ingredient of smog • Created by chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the presence of sunlight • Major sources of NOx and VOC • Emissions • Industrial facilities • Electric utilities • Motor vehicle exhaust • Gasoline vapors • Chemical solvents
Bad Ozone • Affects human health and the environment • Triggers health problems • Chest pain, coughing, and congestion • Reduce lung function • Damages vegetation and ecosystems • Reduced agricultural crop and commercial forest yields • Reduced growth of seedlings • Increased susceptibility to diseases, pests, and harsh weather • Damages the foliage of trees and other plants
What is Being Done Good Ozone 1987, treaty called Montreal Protocol Phases out production and use of ozone – depleting substances EPA Established regulations to phase out ozone depleted chemicals in the U.S WARNING LABELS Products containing CFCS Prohibited Releases of car & appliances refrigerants Substituting ozone –depleting substances Bad Ozone EPA Clean Air Act Set protective health- standards for ozone Programs To cut NOx and VOC emissions Reducing pollution Reformulating fuels and products Adopt practices Car pooling Buy a bike Recycle
Work Cited http://www.epa.gov/oar/oaqps/gooduphigh/bad.html#8 http://library.thinkquest.org/26026/Environmental_Problems/ozone_depletion_-_causes.html