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16th of September is the anniversary of the most successful international environmental agreement ever undertaken by humans: The Montreal Protocol. In the Protocol all nations of the world committed themselves to ban the emission of so-called ODS (Ozone Depleting Substances). As you can see in the graphics below, it has been a great success in reducing these Substances (herein called EECI).
Decrease of Ozone Depleting Substances (called EECI in graphics) in the air in ppt (parts per trillion)
Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Protocol
Hence, the ozone-depletion-problem is actually being solved. This shows, we have the ability to find solutions, if we really work together. Now, it is up to us to go ahead on the right road.
Increase your “Ozone-Hand Print”!
- Give your old fridges and air conditioners to recycling yards without damaging the cooling system preventing the release of CFC.
- While renovating your house, make sure that you recycle your old insulation.
- Don’t use air conditioners which use CFCs.
- Use spray cans which does not use CFCs.
- Do not use styrofoam.
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Resource Material
Ozone booklet
NASA Links
Good and bad ozone
Latest status of the ozone layer
World Meteorological Homepage
Ozone layer 2012
UNEP
Teacher’s guide for primary school
Teacher’s guide for secondary school
Ozzy Ozone Material
Cartoon
Video
Page for Kids
Quiz Who knows cards
Lower quality
High quality
Map on UV radiation
General Information about ozone hole
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Ozone hole does not cause green house effect / global warming
It is a far-spread misunderstanding that the greenhouse effect and the depletion of the ozone layer are two words for the same problem. But in fact, they are two words for two very different problems.
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
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OZONE HOLE
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- Sunlight can pass greenhouse gases in troposphere
- Sunlight becomes thermal radiation(warmth) after reaching the earth
- Thermal radiation cannot pass Greenhouse Gases and is trapped on earth
Consequence: Global Warming
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- CFCs are emitted by humans and rise into stratosphere -
- Sunlight breaks down CFC, atomic chlorine is released
- Atomic chlorine destroys ozone layer
- Ultraviolet(UV)radiation is no longer blocked by layer and reaches earth
Consequence: Skin cancer, Blindness
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