Stratospheric Ozone Depletion ("The Ozone Hole")

Identify TWO anthropogenic sources of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Anthropogenic CO2 sources are part of our everyday activities and include those from power generation, transportation, industrial sources, chemical production, petroleum production, and agricultural practices. Many of these source types burn fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas), with CO2 emissions as a byproduct.

Identify ONE strategy for reducing ozone depletion.

Avoid the consumption of gases dangerous to the ozone layer, due to their content or manufacturing process. ... Minimize the use of cars

Identify the class of chemical compounds that is primarily responsible for the thinning of the stratospheric ozone layer.

CFCs are a class of chemical compounds that are primarily responsible for the thinning of the stratospheric ozone layer.

Identify the greenhouse gas that is the reference point for the global warming potential (GWP) scale

CO2, by definition, has a GWP of 1 regardless of the time period used, because it is the gas being used as the reference.

Identify the 5 principal greenhouse gases.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the primary greenhouse gas emitted through human activities. In 2019, CO2 accounted for about 80 percent of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions from human activities. Water vapor. Carbon dioxide. Methane.

Describe how the chemical compounds that you identified destroy stratospheric ozone molecules.

Chlorine atoms break down ozone molecules. Ozone is an atmospheric trace gas that occurs naturally in the stratosphere. It is also formed as a consequence of human activity in the troposphere, immediately above Earth's surface.

Identify THREE environmental problems caused by excess greenhouse gases from anthropogenic sources in the atmosphere.

Greenhouse gases have far-ranging environmental and health effects. They cause climate change by trapping heat, and they also contribute to respiratory disease from smog and air pollution. Extreme weather, food supply disruptions, and increased wildfires are other effects of climate change caused by greenhouse gases.May 13, 2019

Identify ONE other environmental impact besides global warming that comes from the use of CFCs.

HCFCs

List the four greenhouse gases from #1 in order of lowest GWP to highest GWP (water vapor is excluded).

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) are the main High Global Warming Potential gases.

Describe how the cyclic process of how stratospheric ozone forms, breaks down and forms again naturally in the atmosphere.

In the stratosphere, ozone is created primarily by ultraviolet radiation. When high-energy ultraviolet rays strike ordinary oxygen molecules (O2), they split the molecule into two single oxygen atoms, known as atomic oxygen.

Identify TWO natural sources of methane in the atmosphere.

Methane (CH4): Methane is emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil. Methane emissions also result from livestock and other agricultural practices, land use and by the decay of organic waste in municipal solid waste landfills.

Identify TWO anthropogenic sources of methane in the atmosphere.

Methane is emitted from a variety of anthropogenic (human-influenced) and natural sources. Anthropogenic emission sources include landfills, oil and natural gas systems, agricultural activities, coal mining, stationary and mobile combustion, wastewater treatment, and certain industrial processes.

Besides GWP, what other factor plays a role in the effect a greenhouse gas has on the greenhouse effect?

Natural factors, such as variations in the sun's output, volcanic activity, the Earth's orbit, the carbon cycle, and others, also affect Earth's radiative balance. However, beginning in the late 1700s, the net global effect of human activities has been a continual increase in greenhouse gas concentrations

Identify TWO effects on ecosystems and/or human health that can result due to the depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer.

Negative effects include increases in certain types of skin cancers, eye cataracts and immune deficiency disorders.

Explain why water vapor doesn't contribute significantly to global climate change.

On average, it probably accounts for about 60% of the warming effect. However, water vapor does not control the Earth's temperature, but is instead controlled by the temperature. This is because the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere limits the maximum amount of water vapor the atmosphere can contain.

Identify TWO chemicals that also destroy ozone molecules similar to the chemical you identified in #4.

Ozone Depletion. When chlorine and bromine atoms come into contact with ozone in the stratosphere, they destroy ozone molecules.

Identify ONE environmental consequence of the depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer.

Ozone layer depletion causes increased UV radiation levels at the Earth's surface, which is damaging to human health. Negative effects include increases in certain types of skin cancers, eye cataracts and immune deficiency disorders. UV rays also affect plant growth, reducing agricultural productivity.

Identify THREE ways/solutions to reduce the addition/amount of anthropogenic greenhouse gases.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. ...

Identify TWO anthropogenic sources of CFCs in the atmosphere.

Refrigerators and Air Conditioners. The most common emitter of CFCs are refrigerants, particularly those used after the 1930s. ...

Identify TWO anthropogenic sources of nitrous oxide in the atmosphere.

Since the industrial revolution, the amount of nitrous oxide in the atmosphere has increased by 16%. ... Important human sources come from agriculture (nitrous oxide fertilizers, soil cultivation), livestock manure, biomass or fossil fuels combustion and industrial processes.

Identify TWO of the major uses for which these chemicals were manufactured.

Some major uses include coolants/ air-conditioning, aerosols, and styrofoam for insulation.

Identify the international agreement that brought about the reduction of the manufacturing and use of the chemical you identified in #3.

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer

Identify TWO natural sources of nitrous oxide in the atmosphere.

The major natural sources include soils under natural vegetation, tundra and the oceans. Important human sources come from agriculture (nitrous oxide fertilizers, soil cultivation), livestock manure, biomass or fossil fuels combustion and industrial processes.

Identify ONE ecosystem service of the ozone layer.

The stratospheric ozone layer is Earth's "sunscreen" - protecting living things from too much ultraviolet

Identify TWO natural sources of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

There are both natural and human sources of carbon dioxide emissions. Natural sources include decomposition, ocean release and respiration. Human sources come from activities like cement production, deforestation as well as the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas.

ONE way stratospheric ozone differs from tropospheric ozone

Unlike stratospheric ozone, which forms naturally in the upper atmosphere and protects us from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays, ground-level (or tropospheric) ozone is created through the interactions of man-made (and natural) emissions of volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides in the presence of heat

Identify TWO other gases (not the ones listed in #1) that act as greenhouse gases.

chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), as well as sulfur hexafluoride (SF6).

Explain why these international agreements on stratospheric ozone considered "landmark."

he Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, the landmark international agreement focused on helping heal the ozone layer and protecting our planet from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Ozone formed at ground level is a harmful pollutant. Identify one effect that ground-level ozone can have on ecosystems and/or human health.

it can trigger a variety of health problems, particularly for children, the elderly, and people of all ages who have lung diseases such as asthma.

Identify ONE chemical that can be used as an alternative to CFCs and identify ONE drawback of using the chemical as a substitute.

water, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons