Ozone Damage

Kelley Wilson
SOC 202-02
Current Event #2
Scientists discovered several years ago that the ozone layer has been significantly damaged. Pollution is the main resource that caused colossal damage to the ozone layer. Scientists configured that it would take until the year 2050 for the ozone to recover. But they recently discovered that more harm has been done. Scientists now believe that is will take fifteen years longer than expected for the ozone layer to fully recover.
The explanation for the additional damage is due to chemical compounds that have leaked from refrigerators, air conditioners and other devices. These substances have exposed the Earth to dangerous solar rays. Ultraviolet radiation will result from the unprotected ozone, causing skin cancer and killing plant life that is functional for the food chain. There is also an ozone hole over the Antarctic expecting to deteriorate over the years to come. Each year, a new portion of the Antarctic ozone hole has opened producing a thin area of the upper stratosphere absorbing radiation gases. Chlorofluorocarbons or CFC’s are the contributing factor to the discovery of the additional ozone damage. Scientists have revealed CFC’s come from air conditioners, aerosol spray cans, and other equipment.
There has been a decline in the use of CFC’s. Many countries around the world have devoted to decrease the usage of chlorofluorocarbon items. Thus far it has helped the first two atmosphere layers over the earth, but researchers still believe that it will take until 2065 for the ozone layer to recover.