Running head: OZONE

Ozone An Assignment Submitted by Name of Student Name of Establishment Class XXXX, Section XXXX, Autumn 2012

OZONE Ozone Natural disasters have become more frequent and no longer surprise us nowadays. Many

environmental scientists consider the current changes of the Earth's natural cycles to be the result of climate change provoked by a variety of anthropogenic factors. The problem of global warming is perhaps one of the most discussed issues of the twenty-first century. There are many controversial views upon it. Therefore, it is still hard to distinguish accurately what processes really cause climate change and whether human activity really impacts the Earth's climate. However, these controversies cannot deny the fact that anthropogenic influence on the environment has become more visible in the recent years and it must be controlled and strictly regulated, in order to save the planet for the future generations. Scientists have found that the process of global temperature increasing takes place due to the increase of the levels of carbon dioxide and water vapor in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is the most common greenhouse gas that prevents the heat coming from the Earth's surface pass into space. More accurate explanation of this process is: If the transmission of solar radiation to the surface of a planet is less attenuated than the emission of thermal (heat) radiation from the surface to space, the surface and the lower atmosphere of the planet warm until emission at the top of the atmosphere balancesthe amount of solar radiation absorbed by the atmosphere and the surface (Grassl, 2008) Thus, the increasing concentration of carbon dioxide results in greenhouse effect that can be viewed as the fundamental characteristic of climate change. It should be also mentioned that there are a lot of other gases that pollute the atmosphere due to different anthropogenic activities: nitrous oxide, CFC gases, methane, and a great number

OZONE of other chlorinated compounds. The amount of these gases in the atmosphere is less significant than that of CO2 and water vapor, but still some of these gases can be even more dangerous in terms of their destructive potential (Casper, 2009). For instance, the increase of CFC gases emission is considered to be the main factor that leads to destructions of the natural ozone layer

of the atmosphere. The ozone layer is destroyed due to chemical reaction of CFCs and ozone. As a result of this reaction, ozone appears to be excreted from the natural cycle of oxygen-ozoneoxygen. In fact, climate change cannot be associated with ozone holes, because ozone is also one of the greenhouse gases. However, the destruction of the ozone layer makes the Earth more vulnerable to the impact of solar radiation coming from the outer space. Some scientists still believe that climate change is primarily associated with some natural processes. However, a great number of anthropogenic aspects must not be underestimated. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution in the mid nineteenth century, humanity has begun massive destruction of forests. As a result, deforestation has become one of the factors that lead to global warming nowadays. The natural cycle of carbon dioxide is based on the reaction of photosynthesis. Destroying forests all around the world, humanity has changed the natural balance of the past. Thus, the conclusion can be drawn that humanity of the twenty-first century has to deal with a great number of environmental problems (water and air pollution, ozone holes, greenhouse effect, and so on) that must be solved as soon as possible. I think that, despite the controversy of global warming, international community must take into account all the possible factors that can be associated with climate change (whether it is anthropogenic activities or natural factors). The main problem that prevents finding adequate solutions for the current environmental issues is that international community is still unable to find any common grounds

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in this sphere. The Kyoto Protocol is the latest significant document dealing with the problem of greenhouse effect, but it was adopted fifteen years ago (UNFCCC). The latter attempts of the most developed countries of the world to find some consensus in this sphere failed (for example, Copenhagen conference). Thus, today, we do not need any further discussion of the environmental problems. What we need is to start searching for solutions, but for this all the members of global community must start thinking globally and forget about their national industrial interests for the sake of the future of the whole humankind.

OZONE References Casper J. K.. (2009). Greenhouse Gases: Worldwide Impacts. New York: Bang Printing. Grassl, K. H. (2008). Climate Change and Technological Options: Basic Facts, Evaluation and Practical Solutions. New York: Springer Wien. Kyoto Protocol (2012). United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Retrieved from http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/items/2830.php