Today is the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, which marks the day of the ban: September 16, 1987. The effects of chlorofluorocarbons and other chlorine and bromine-containing compounds are still being felt on Earth’s atmosphere today.
Chlorofluorocarbons – or Freon as the DuPont Corporation called them – is an almost miraculous organic compound that had low toxicity, low reactivity and low flammability. They were thought to be good for the environment until two researchers at the University of California, Irvine, discovered they were silently destroying the planet.
The 2010 ozone hole season
Sherwood Rowland and Mario Molina found that CFCs were decomposed by the sun’s light once in the upper atmosphere layer, producing a chlorine radical that turns ozone into O2, destroying the layer that protects us and the planet against sure death by ultraviolet rays.
In other words: If you were planning some chilly holiday in Antarctica, cancel them. [NASA Goddard - Thanks Rebecca!]
confused
Friday, September 17, 2010 at 8:42 AMI don’t get it, why would the hole be where there are no humans? shouldn’t it be somewhere like america or europe where there is people who use cfc’s?
Nads
Friday, September 17, 2010 at 9:41 AMConfused, Im no scientist but I imagine that it is due to the coriolos movements of the upper atmosphere and possible that is there the ozone layer is naturally thinner..
Pollution spreads world wide pretty quickly.
You can do a fart in Sydney Australia and one fart molecule of yours might end up in New York in a few weeks.
ziltch
Friday, September 17, 2010 at 11:14 AMAnd yet many think humans can not effect the climate.