Fixed That Hole, Didn't We?
Remember the hole in the ozon layer? It was a hot topic in the 80s and early 90s. But then we stopped using those CFC gases and the hole disappeared. Right?
Unfortunately, no. Or it did in a sense: It disappeared from the news. In the real world, however, the hole in the ozon layer has recently set an ominous double record: It has never been larger in area, nor deeper.
By "deep", the scientists describe how thin the layer actually is within the hole, as there is never absolutely no ozon left. The hole is described as the area where the ozon layer is less than 50% of its normal depth. For those scientifically inclined, the new records are 10.6 million square miles and 1.2 DU of depth. For perspective, that is an area somewhat larger than North America, and the average non-hole depth would be 125 DU.
The chlorofluorocarbons that are causing the hole were used in industry for refrigeration purposes, among other things. Released into the atmosphere they break down to chlorine, which is reponsible for the destruction of the ozon layer which, when in place, protects us from the sun's dangerous ultraviolet radiation. When these rays instead reach the Earths surface, they cause, among other things, cancer and blindness in both man and animals.
Though we now release very little CFCs into the atmosphere, they unfortunately stay active for a very long time; typcially more than 40 years. Because of that, the hole in ozon layer may still increase for 5-10 years, before it is expected to start to regenerate and hopefully be fully restored by the year 2065.
The hole in the ozon layer is of course a much smaller problem than the larger issue of global climate change. But it carries a lesson: What we don't know about how we pollute our world can kill us, and even if we react soon enough and with sufficient resolve, fixing the problem can take a very long time.
Better safe than sorry, then. Unfortunately, as of yet, we are neither.
Unfortunately, no. Or it did in a sense: It disappeared from the news. In the real world, however, the hole in the ozon layer has recently set an ominous double record: It has never been larger in area, nor deeper.
By "deep", the scientists describe how thin the layer actually is within the hole, as there is never absolutely no ozon left. The hole is described as the area where the ozon layer is less than 50% of its normal depth. For those scientifically inclined, the new records are 10.6 million square miles and 1.2 DU of depth. For perspective, that is an area somewhat larger than North America, and the average non-hole depth would be 125 DU.
The chlorofluorocarbons that are causing the hole were used in industry for refrigeration purposes, among other things. Released into the atmosphere they break down to chlorine, which is reponsible for the destruction of the ozon layer which, when in place, protects us from the sun's dangerous ultraviolet radiation. When these rays instead reach the Earths surface, they cause, among other things, cancer and blindness in both man and animals.
Though we now release very little CFCs into the atmosphere, they unfortunately stay active for a very long time; typcially more than 40 years. Because of that, the hole in ozon layer may still increase for 5-10 years, before it is expected to start to regenerate and hopefully be fully restored by the year 2065.
The hole in the ozon layer is of course a much smaller problem than the larger issue of global climate change. But it carries a lesson: What we don't know about how we pollute our world can kill us, and even if we react soon enough and with sufficient resolve, fixing the problem can take a very long time.
Better safe than sorry, then. Unfortunately, as of yet, we are neither.
posted by Frode Fanebust at 10:20 PM
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