Ozone layer
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The Ozone layer is part of the stratosphere and is where 90% of the earth's ozone resides. The Ozone Layer begins between 6-10 miles (10-17 km) above the Earth and extends for about 30 miles (50km). Ozone molecules (O3) play a key role in absorbing damaging ultraviolet radiation (UV-B) from the sun. Man-made chemicals such as ChloroFluroCarbons (CFCs) and certain bromides are known to react with the ozone in the stratosphere causing a thining of the ozone layer.
The thining is so extreme in Anatartica (up to 60%) that it creates a 'hole' in the ozone layer allowing most of the harmful UV-B rays from the sun to reach the Earth. These high levels of UV-B radiation can be easily felt by anyone in Austrlia or New Zealand and are responsible to some extent for the very high cancer rates in these countries. Moreover, a similiar process is at work over the Artic with a small 'hole' being detectable near Europe.
Contents |
Understanding the issue
The causes
Evidence
Cost-benefit analysis
What are the solutions
Organisations that work on Issue name
See also
- The Montreal Protocol an international agreement on the production and use of substances that deplete the Ozone Layer.
