What is global warming?

 
Global warming is when the earth heats up or temperature rises. It happens when
greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrous oxide, and methane) trap heat
and light in the earth’s atmosphere, which increases the temperature.This hurts many
people, animals, and plant.

What are greenhouse gasses?

Greenhouse gasses are the gasses in the earth’s atmosphere that traps heat and light
from the sun.  With too many greenhouse gasses in the air, the earth’s atmosphere will
trap too much heat and the earth will get too hot.  As a result people, animals, and
plants would die because the heat would be too strong.

Negative impact of greenhouse gasses

The greenhouse effect is when the temperature rises because the sun’s heat and light
is trapped in the earth’s atmosphere.This is like when heat is trapped in a car. On a very
hot day, the car gets hotter when it is out in the parking lot.  This is because the heat
and light from the sun can get into the car, by going through the windows, but it can’t get
back out because of large wave length.This is what the greenhouse effect does to the
earth.  The heat and light can get through the atmosphere, but it can’t get out.  As a
result, the temperature rises.

Positive impact of greenhouse gasses

Sometimes the temperature can change in a way that helps us.  The greenhouse effect
makes the earth appropriate for people to live on.  Without it, the earth would be
freezing, or on the other hand it would be burning hot.  It would be freezing at night
because the sun would be down.  We would not get the sun’s heat and light to make the
night somewhat warm.  During the day, especially during the summer, it would be
burning because the sun would be up with no atmosphere to filter it, so people, plants,
and animals would be exposed to all the light and heat.

Even though the greenhouse effect makes the earth suitable place for people to live
on ,too many gases can bring unusual warmer, and many plants, animals, and people
will die. They would die because there would be less food (plants like corn, wheat, and
other vegetables and fruits).  This would happen because the plants would not be able
to take the heat so it would lead less food to eat, but it would also limit the food that
animals have.  With less food, like grass, for the animals that they need to survive, we
would even have less food.  Gradually, people, plants, and animals would all die of
hunger.  

What is global warming doing to the environment?

Global warming is affecting many parts of the world. Global warming makes the sea
rise, and when the sea rises, the water covers many low land islands.  
This is a big problem for many of the plants, animals, and people on islands.  The water
covers the plants and causes some of them to die.  When they die, the animals lose a
source of food, along with their habitat.  Although animals have a better ability to adapt
to what happens than plants , they may die also.  When the plants and animals die,
people lose two sources of food, plant food and animal food.  They may also lose their
homes.  As a result, they would also have to leave the area or die.  This would be called
a break in the food chain, or a chain reaction, one thing happening that leads to another
and so on.  

The oceans are affected by global warming in other ways, as well.  Many things that are
happening to the ocean are linked to global warming.  One thing that is happening is
warm water, caused from global warming, is harming and killing algae in the ocean.

Algae is a producer that you can see floating on the top of the water. This floating green
algae is food to many consumers in the ocean. One kind of a consumer is small
fish.  There are many others like crabs, some whales, and many other animals
also.  Fewer algae is a problem because there is less food for us and many animals in
the sea. 

Global warming is doing many things to people as well as animals and plants.  It is not
only killing algae, but it is also destroying many huge forests.  The pollution that causes
global warming is linked to acid rain.  Acid rain gradually destroys almost everything it
touches.  Global warming is also causing many more fires that wipe out whole
forests. This happens because global warming can make the earth very hot. In forests,
some plants and trees leaves can be so dry that they catch on fire because of heat.

. What causes global warming?  

Many things cause global warming. One thing that causes global warming is electrical
pollution.  Electricity causes pollution in many ways, some are worse than others.  In
most cases, fossil fuels are burned to create electricity. Fossil fuels are made of dead
plants and animals.  Some examples of fossil fuels are oil and petroleum.  Many
pollutants (chemicals that pollute the air, water, and land) are sent into the air when
fossil fuels are burned.  Some of these chemicals are called greenhouse gasses.

we use these as a sources of energy much more than other sources that give off less
pollution. Petroleum, one of the sources of energy, is used a lot.  It is used for
transportation, making electricity, and making many other things.  Although this source
of energy gives off a lot of pollution, it is used for 38% of the United States’ energy.

When you do these things, you are add more greenhouse gasses in the
atmosphere . Greenhouse gasses are sent into the air because for creating the
electricity we use to do these things.  If you think of how many times a day you do these
things, it’s a lot.  You even have to add in how many other people do these things!  That
turns out to be a lot of pollutants going into the air a day because of people like using
electricity. The least amount of electricity you use, the better it is for atmosphere.
When we throw our garbage away, the garbage goes to landfills. The garbage is then
sometimes burned.  This sends an enormous amount of greenhouse gasses into the air
and makes global warming worse.

Another thing that makes global warming worse is when people cut down trees.  Trees
and other plants collect carbon dioxide (CO2), which is a greenhouse gas.Carbon
dioxide is the part of the air that our body lets out when we breathe. With fewer trees, it
is harder for people to breathe because there is more CO2 in the air, and we don’t
breathe CO2, we breathe oxygen.  Plants collect the CO2 that we breathe out, and they
give back oxygen that we breathe in.  With less trees and other plants, there is less air
for us, and more greenhouse gases are sent into the air. This means that it is very
important to protect our trees so as to stop the greenhouse effect.CO2 collects light and
heat (radiant energy), produced by the sun, and this makes the earth warmer.  The heat
and light from the sun is produced in the center of the sun.  This layer is called the
core.  Just like a core of an apple, it is in the middle. When sunlight gets into the
surface, the temperature is about 10,000F. Finally, the heat and light is sent into
space.  This is called radiant energy (heat and light).  The radiant energy reaches the
earth’s atmosphere.  As a result of this process we get light and heat.  When you
pollute, you send chemicals into the air that destroy our atmosphere, so more heat and
light cannot escape from the earth’s atmosphere.

Natural Causes
Natural causes are causes that are created by nature. Natural cause is a release of
methane gas from arctic tundra and wetlands. Methane is a greenhouse gas and a
very dangerous gas to our environment. A greenhouse gas is a gas that traps heat in
the earth's atmosphere. Another natural cause is that the earth goes through a cycle of
climate change. This climate change usually lasts about 40,000 years.

Man-made Causes of Global Warming

Man-made causes probably do the most damage to our planet. There are many man-
made causes of global warming. Pollution is one of the biggest man-made problems.
Pollution comes in many shapes and sizes. Burning fossil fuels is one thing that
causes pollution. Fossil fuels are fuels made of organic matter such as coal, or oil.
When fossil fuels are burned they give off a green house gas called CO2. Also, mining
of coal and oil allows methane to escape. How does it escape? Methane is naturally in
the ground. When coal or oil is mined you have to dig up the earth a little bit. When you
dig up the fossil fuels you dig up the methane as well letting it to escape into the
atmosphere. 

Another major man-made cause of Global Warming is population. More people means
more food, and more methods of transportation. That means more methane because
there will be more burning of fossil fuels.If you've been in a barn filled with animals and
you smelled something terrible, you were smelling methane. Another source of
methane is manure. Because more food is needed to feed the population we have to
raise food. Animals like cows are a source of food which means more manure and
hence more methane. Another problem with the increasing population is transportation.
More people means more cars, and more cars means more pollution. Also, many
people have more than one car. There are definitely ways of raising animals and
farming that use no manure and no methane. Once we realized the problem we should
have stopped immediately using manure. Instead we can choose to continue killing the
planet. We are in a very stubborn race. 

Since CO2 contributes to global warming, the increase in population makes the
problem worse because we breathe out CO2. Also, the trees that convert our CO2 to
oxygen are being cut down because we're using the land that we cut the trees down
from as property for our homes and buildings. We are not replacing the trees (trees are
a very important part of our eco-system), so we are constantly taking advantage of our
natural resources and giving nothing back in return .

Global Warming Impacts and Effects

The effects of Global Warming can already be seen in the IPCC's Third Assessment
Report finds that in the last 40 years, the global average sea level has risen, ocean
heat content has increased, and snow cover and ice extent have decreased, which
threatens to inundate low-lying island nations and coastal regions throughout the
world.Effects of global warming already being felt on plants and animals worldwide
Global warming is having a significant impact on hundreds of plant and animal
species around the world -- although the most dramatic effects may not be felt for
decades, according to a new study in the journal Nature.
"Birds are laying eggs earlier than usual, plants are flowering earlier and mammals
are breaking hibernation sooner,"
"Clearly, if such ecological changes are now being detected when the globe has
warmed by an estimated average of only 1 degree F (0.6 C) over the past 100 years,
then many more far-reaching effects on species and ecosystems will probably occur
by 2100, when temperatures could increase as much as 11 F (6 C)."

Global Warming Effects that will happen in the future :

Global warming will have serious impacts on the environment and on society. Higher
temperatures will cause a melting of ice in Greenland and Antarctica. This will
accelerate the rise of sea level. The speed at which global warming is expected to
occur in the 21st century is faster than most plant and animal species will be able to
cope with. Some will adapt but others will suffer and may become extinct.
Global warming will affect agriculture. New crops will be able to be grown in areas that
are currently too cold to support them. However, more pests and diseases may offset
any benefits higher temperatures may have. Water resources will also be affected.
Some reservoirs may dry up if temperature increases, especially if rainfall also
decreases. Rising sea levels may pollute fresh groundwater supplies with salt water.
Global warming will also affect human health. There may be more heat-related
illnesses in hotter summers, and increased breathing problems as higher
temperatures increase air pollution in cities, reducing air quality. The malaria mosquito
may also be able to spread to other regions of the world where it is currently too cold
to survive and breed.
More extreme weather, for example storms, floods and droughts will have severe
impacts on the environment and on society. The poorest people in society will
unfortunately be those least able to cope with the impacts of global warming.,

What Is The Kyoto Accord?

The Kyoto Accord was an international treaty whereby countries agreed to reduce the
amount of greenhouse gases they emit if their neighbours do likewise. It was a very
complex agreement that allowed trading pollution credits. If it is cheaper to reduce
emissions in country A, then country B can buy the pollution credits, and have them
count toward its own quota of reductions. Happily, the global atmosphere does not
care where the greenhouse gas reductions come from. 
Copehagen 2 decided to hold the conference , cop3 in Kyoto in December 1997 to
finalise a protocol on GHG emission at Kyoto conference, US declared that they
would stabilize US emission to 1990 level by 2010. Whereas EU,G77 and china
demanded reduction by 15% below 1990 level. USA expected this response and
came prepared with a variety of market based remission trading mechanisms that
would help it to take the level below 1990 level.This mechanism were included in
Kyoto protocol. Finally Kyoto was a big success for US and a bargain for USA in
which trading mechanism were accepted by other groups. Trading of emissions
between nations got into protocol in last minute.Though developing countries were
not obliged to reduce GHG emissions within a specific time frame . USA insisted that
it would ratify the Kyoto protocol if developing country agrees to do so.

TATA GOUPS EFFORTS TOWARDS ENVIROMENT

Environment and ecology are a part of the culture and ethos of the Tata group. Its
companies and trusts have traditionally nurtured practices and projects that reflect
concern for conservation and the conviction that the environment is not a disposable
commodity. The close association with nature and its causes is helping the group define
the spectrum of its involvement with climate change mitigation.

As the world reels under the tumultuous effects of shifting weather patterns in the
form of rising temperatures, floods, drought and dying species of flora and fauna, it is
clear that companies and individuals have to put their might behind nature. The
environment has sounded out a clear call for action.

Leading from the front

 Tata Steel recycles more than 80 per cent of the waste generated and the rest is
despatched into safe landfills.
  At Tata Chemicals, water recycling processes and sewage treatment facilities
have cut down the dependence on fresh water. It also invests time and resources
in saving the whale shark that is an annual visitor to the Mithapur plant.
 Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has committed to building green offices; its
buildings will be rated by LEED or the Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System which is the internationally
accepted benchmark for green buildings.
 Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Tata Chemicals, Tata Power, Tata Sponge, and Tata
Metaliks have registered projects under the Clean Development Mechanism
(CDM) instituted by the UNFCCC.

The major areas under CDM projects are:

    1. Waste heat recovery power generation
    2. Super critical technology for power generation
    3. Fuel switch
    4. Methane capture
    5. Energy efficiency improvements
    6. Setting up of renewable energy power generation farms using wind, solar,
etc.

 Tata Motors has been an early adopter of environmentally friendly practices. Way
back in 1964, the company took over 800 acres of rocky and arid wasteland
close to the Pune campus and converted it into a mini forest with more than 1.5
lakh trees belonging to 188 species. The company has developed a nature trail
within the forest and protects a lake that is home to an assortment of fish and
other marine species.
 Tata Chemicals runs a biodiversity reserve plantation project, driven by volunteer
employees.The objective of the project is to create a botanical reserve that will
be a stronghold for endangered plant species and a seed bank for their mass
regeneration. The plantation provides a safe breeding ground for Caspian Terns,
migratory aquatic birds that visit every winter.

Tata Tea safeguards the rich and diverse flora and fauna around its estates in
Munnar, Kerala. It has assumed responsibility for conservation of 1,100 hectares of
swamps and streams inside and near its estates and helps protect shola grasslands
in the region.The company has also taken on the challenge of protecting the 97
square kilometre Eravikulam National Park.

SMALL TIPS TO REDUCE GLOBAL WARMING

The choices we make and the products we buy test our commitment to maintain a healthy
planet. When we burn fossil fuels—such as oil, coal, and natural gas—to run our cars and light
our homes, we pump carbon dioxide (CO2) into the air. This thickens the heat-trapping blanket
that surrounds the planet, causing global warming.
Choosing modern technology can reduce our use of fossil fuels and help in protecting the
planet. These ten steps will help to curb global warming, save your money, and create a safer
environment for the future:-

1)Drive Smart:
A well-tuned car with properly inflated tires burns less gasoline—cutting pollution and
saving you money at the pump. If you have two cars, drive the one with better gas
mileage whenever possible. If possible skip the drive and take public transit, walk, or
bicycle when you can.

2)Buy Local and Organic:

Did you know the average American travels more than 1,500 miles. Think of all the
energy wasted and pollution added to the atmosphere—not to mention all the pesticides
and chemicals used to grow most of the food. So go to your local organic farmer to get
your fruits and veggies.

3)Support clean, renewable energy.

Renewable energy solutions, such as wind and solar power, can reduce our reliance on
coal-burning power plants, the largest source of global warming pollution in the United
States. Call your local utility and sign up for renewable energy. If they don't offer it, ask
them why not?

4)Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.

Especially those that burn the longest each day. Compact fluorescents produce the
same amount of light as normal bulbs, but use about a quarter of the electricity and last
ten times as long. Each switch you make helps clean the air today, curb global warming,
and save you money on your electricity bill.

5)Saving energy at home is good for the environment and for your wallet.
Start with caulking and weather-stripping on doorways and windows. Then adjust your
thermostat and start saving. For each degree you lower your thermostat in the winter,
you can cut your energy bills by three percent. Finally, ask your utility company to do a
free energy audit of your home to show you how to save even more money.

6)Become a smart water consumer.

Install low-flow showerheads and faucets and you'll use half the water without
decreasing performance. Then turn your hot water heater down to 120°F and see hot-
water costs go down by as much as 50 percent.

7)Buy energy-efficient electronics and appliances.

Replacing an old refrigerator or an air conditioner with an energy-efficient model will
save you money on your electricity bill and cut global warming pollution. Look for the
Energy Star label on new appliances.

8)Plant a Tree, protect a forest.

Protecting forests is a big step on the road to curbing global warming. Trees "breathe in"
carbon dioxide, but slash-and-burn farming practices, intensive livestock production,
and logging have destroyed 90 percent of the native forests in the United States. And
you can take action in your own backyard—planting shade trees around your house will
absorb CO2, and slash your summer air-conditioning bills.
9)Reduce! Reuse! Recycle!
Producing new paper, glass, and metal products from recycled materials saves 70 to 90
percent of the energy and pollution, including CO2, that would result if the product came
from virgin materials. Recycling a stack of newspapers only four feet high will save a
good-sized tree. Please... buy recycled products!

10)Mount a local campaign against global warming.

Educate your community about how it can cut global warming pollution. Support
measures at the national, state, and local level that:

 Make automobiles go further on a gallon of gas;

 Accelerate the use of clean, renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind;
 Increase energy efficiency and conservation; and
 Preserve forests around the world.

Solution to reduce global warming

By investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency, and increasing the efficiency
of the cars we drive, we can take essential steps toward reducing our dependence on
oil and other fossil fuels that cause global warming. There are lot of companies
dedicated to building engines and inventions that could save us from the effects of
global warming.
Using energy more efficiently and moving to renewable energy (wind, solar,
geothermal, and bioenergy) would significantly reduce our emissions of heat-trapping
gases. The United States currently produces 70 percent of its electricity from fossil
fuels such as coal, natural gas, and oil, but only two percent from renewable sources.
By creating new "free energy" sources like wind power or electric cars. We can slow
down the effects of global warming. What we really need is a new engine for cars that
would take no gasoline whatsoever or any other type of fuel that creates carbon
dioxide. Many inventors in the past have created free energy machines, many of
those were lost with time.
-Another way to stop global warming is to plant more trees. We have cut down too
many trees in the past, and we are still doing it. Much of the tropical rainforest has
been cut down, rainforests create a lot of oxygen for us to breathe. By cutting them
down we lower our level of oxygen in the air.
-Many people are already planting more trees, but we need much more people getting
into it around the world. The best solution to global warming is to plant more trees and
we need to replace our current destructive technologies with more efficient
technologies that don't pollute the air we breathe.
In summary the best solution to stop global warming is to plant massive amounts of
trees, and we need to drastically reduce emissions. Their really is no other secret
recipe to stop global warming and find a solution. Incredible new technologies are
needed and we need to take better care of our environment.
 OZONE LAYER

The Earth's atmosphere is divided into five layers - the troposphere, stratosphere,
mesosphere, thermosphere and the exosphere. Lying between the troposphere and
mesosphere, the stratosphere extends over a vertical distance of 32 miles. The ozone
layer is a part of the stratosphere, which ranges between 8.07 miles to 20.42 miles.
This layer contains ozone - a form of oxygen with three molecules, as opposed to
normal oxygen with two molecules. These molecules tend to absorb the harmful
ultraviolet radiations coming from the Sun, which have the ability to harm the lifeforms
on the Earth. If these harmful ultraviolet rays reach the Earth, they can spell disaster
for the life on the planet.
The ozone layer is a layer of gas in the upper atmosphere which protects humans and
other living things from the harmful ultraviolet (UV-B) rays of the sun. In the 1970s
scientists discovered that certain man-made chemicals could destroy ozone and
deplete the ozone layer. Further research found that the growing production and use of
chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in aerosol sprays, refrigeration, insulation
and air conditioning was contributing to the accumulation of ozone-depleting
substances (ODS) in the atmosphere. They also observed that an ‘ozone hole’ was
developing above the Antarctic.
A thinning ozone layer leads to a number of serious health risks for humans. It causes
greater incidences of skin cancer and eye cataracts, with children being particularly
vulnerable. There are also serious impacts for biodiversity. Increased UV-B rays
reduce levels of plankton in the oceans and subsequently diminish fish stocks. It can
also have adverse effects on plant growth, thus reducing agricultural productivity. A
direct negative economic impact is the reduced lifespan of certain materials like
plastics.

Severe depletion of the Antarctic ozone layer was first observed in the early 1980s. The
international response embodied in the Montreal Protocol. Today 196 parties worldwide
have signed the Montreal Protocol which is widely regarded as the most successful
Multinational Environmental Agreement and it is the first treaty achieving universal
ratification.

The ozone layer protection policy of the EU and its Member States is even more
ambitious than the Montreal Protocol.

While the Montreal Protocol has made great strides in the global effort to protect the
ozone layer, the task is far from being complete. Despite all efforts substantial recovery
of the ozone layer is not expected before the middle of the 21st century.

Ozone Layer Depletion

The factors responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer include various compounds
released in the Earth's atmosphere due to human activities. These compounds include
chlorofluorocarbons, halons, etc, which rise in the air, reach the stratosphere, and
destroy the ozone molecules through a series of chemical reactions. The Montreal
Protocol, an international agreement to phase out the use of harmful compounds which
tend to damage the ozone layer, did help in curbing the damage to some extent, but the
ozone layer hole continues to be a grave concern for scientists the world over.

Ozone Layer Hole Facts

A series of chemical reactions involving various compounds is depleting the ozone
layer, and the rate at which this depletion is happening is relatively faster at the poles.
Among the various theories about the depletion of ozone layer, one theory suggests
that the rate of depletion is faster at the poles because of the fall in the temperature of
stratosphere. Studies have revealed that the fall in the temperature of the stratosphere
is making the ozone layer more vulnerable to the damage caused by emissions of these
harmful compounds. Other than the low temperature at the poles, the fact that the
greenhouse gases are trapping the Sun's radiation within the troposphere, is also
contributing to the fall in temperature of stratosphere, and making the ozone layer
vulnerable to depletion. The ozone layer here has been depleted by 33 percent
compared to what it was in the 1970s. More recently, the World Meteorological
Organization (WMO) declared that the ozone layer hole size has increased to 11 million
square miles. This report was based on the studies conducted by National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA).

The rate at which the ozone hole is increasing is a sign of approaching calamity. All this
while, it was assumed that the ozone layer hole causes were dealt with by the
provisions of the Montreal Protocol. More recently, however, the relationship between
the ozone layer and global warming has surfaced an entirely new concern. If all the
provisions of the Montreal Protocol are followed by all the 196 countries which ratified
the same, then the ozone layer is supposed to recover by the year 2050. However, if
the recent trends, which suggest that global warming is indirectly affecting the ozone
layer depletion, are true, then it wouldn't be surprising to see the recovery period
considerably extended.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) announced that data from the U.S.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) shows the hole in the ozone
layer over Antarctica to be 28.3 million square kilometers (11 million square miles).
The hole is its greatest size yet since measurements were first taken. It is three times
the size of the United States. The previous record was two years ago, when the hole
was 27.2 million square kilometers (10.5 million square miles).
The ozone layer filters out dangerous ultraviolet rays from the sun that damage
vegetation and can cause skin cancer and cataracts. Ozone depletion is believed to
contribute to high rates of skin cancer in Australia and other countries south of the
equator. The chief cause of ozone depletion is a family of man-made gases, mostly
CFCs, which were widely used in aerosols and refrigeration. Other gases, including
halons and methyl bromide, have also contributed to the problem.
Ozone loss is calculated by measuring the area and depth of the ozone hole in the
stratosphere, about 25 kilometers about the Earth’s surface. The chemical reaction
that thins ozone reaches its peak with colder higher altitude temperatures in the
southern hemisphere winter, normally in late August to October. It was hoped that the
Montreal Protocol in 1987, which restricted the release of man-made pollutants such
as CFCs, would lead to a recovery of the ozone layer by 2050.

Facts about the Ozone Layer Depletion

A range of chemical compounds, such as chlorofluorocarbons, methyl bromide,
halons, carbon tetrachloride, etc., have the ability to destroy the ozone layer. The
molecules of these compounds are light, and hence they tend to soar in the sky. Once
they reach the stratosphere, they trigger a series of reactions, owing to which the
molecules of ozone get damaged. This damage to the ozone layer makes the Earth
vulnerable to the harmful emissions coming from the Sun. In fact, the adverse effects
of ozone layer depletion have already started becoming more and more obvious, and
the ozone hole in Antarctica is one of the best examples of the same. Among the
lesser known ozone layer facts, an interesting observation is that the depletion of
ozone layer is quicker in cold conditions. This observation is also backed by the fact
the rate at which this layer is getting depleted is faster at the poles, as compared to the
other parts.

Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol

The 'Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer' was an
international agreement designed to protect the ozone layer. Since it came to
existence in 1987, it has been subjected to amendment twice, first in 1990 and then in
1992. This treaty stressed on the requirement of phasing out the various compounds
which lead to the depletion of the ozone layer, within a stipulated period of time. As of
today, this agreement has been ratified by 196 nations. Environmentalists believe that
if the norms of this agreement are followed, the damage caused to the ozone layer will
recover by 2050.

Even though the whole world is positive about the ozone layer recovery, the
relationship between the ozone layer and global warming which has been discovered
of late has raised some questions about the stipulated recovery period. The radiation
coming from the Sun has to be reflected back to the outer space, but the concentration
of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere tends to trap it within the troposphere. While
the near surface temperature is rising, the temperature of the stratosphere is
decreasing as the radiation is not reflected back. Going by the aforementioned ozone
layer facts, we know that the depletion of this layer becomes faster in cold
environment. And thus, the fall in temperature of stratosphere, as a result of the heat
being trapped within the troposphere, is making the ozone layer more vulnerable to
depletion.

There are various methods, which can be used to build your own homemade ozone
generator.Here, let us take a look at one of these methods.

The parts required to build your own ozone generator are

 Transformer with its power ranging from 3000v to 7500v. (it can be found at the
neon sign dealer.)
 2 glass jars (one small, one large. The small jar should fit well in the large jar.
Glass from photo frames can also be used.)
 Copper, brass, aluminum scrap foil or used razor blades
 Window screen or aluminum screen
 Wooden board, to mount the transformer
 Wire or cord
 Plug
 Glue gun of high temperature
 Alligator clips

WHY THE HOLES IN OZONE LAYER ARE MORE PROMINENT IN

ANTARCTICA THAN IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
The primary cause of ozone depletion is the presence of chlorine-containing source
gases (primarily CFCs and related halocarbons). In the presence of UV light, these
gases dissociate, releasing chlorine atoms, which then go on to catalyze ozone
destruction. The Cl-catalyzed ozone depletion can take place in the gas phase, but it is
dramatically enhanced in the presence of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs).

These polar stratospheric clouds(PSC) form during winter, in the extreme cold. Polar
winters are dark, consisting of 3 months without solar radiation (sunlight). The lack of
sunlight contributes to a decrease in temperature and the polar vortex traps and chills
air. Temperatures hover around or below -80 °C. These low temperatures form cloud
particles. There are three types of PSC clouds; nitric acid trihydrate clouds, slowly
cooling water-ice clouds, and rapid cooling water-ice(nacerous) clouds; that provide
surfaces for chemical reactions that lead to ozone destruction.

The photochemical processes involved are complex but well understood. The key
observation is that, ordinarily, most of the chlorine in the stratosphere resides in stable
"reservoir" compounds, primarily hydrochloric acid (HCl) and chlorine nitrate (ClONO 2).
During the Antarctic winter and spring, however, reactions on the surface of the polar
stratospheric cloud particles convert these "reservoir" compounds into reactive free
radicals (Cl and ClO). The clouds can also remove NO2 from the atmosphere by
converting it to nitric acid, which prevents the newly formed ClO from being converted
back into ClONO2.
The role of sunlight in ozone depletion is the reason why the Antarctic ozone depletion
is greatest during spring. During winter, even though PSCs are at their most abundant,
there is no light over the pole to drive the chemical reactions. During the spring,
however, the sun comes out, providing energy to drive photochemical reactions, and
melt the polar stratospheric clouds, releasing the trapped compounds. Warming
temperatures near the end of spring break up the vortex around mid-December. As
warm, ozone-rich air flows in from lower latitudes, the PSCs are destroyed, the ozone
depletion process shuts down, and the ozone hole closes.

What we can do to protect the Ozone Layer

We have already taken the first steps to help protect the ozone layer by informing
ourself of the problem and its causes. Try to find out as much as you can about the
problem from publications, schools or public libraries. The only way to mend the
ozone hole is to stop the release of ozone depleting substances (ODS) into the
atmosphere. European legislation aims to achieve this by phasing out ODS as soon
as viable alternatives become available, and where no such alternatives are
available, restricting the use of these substances as far as possible. However, there
are a number of practical initiatives which can be taken at the individual level to
help protect the ozone layer:

 Make sure that old refrigerators and air conditioners are disposed off safely
by giving it to a recycling yard without damaging the cooling circuit
 Ensure technicians repairing your refrigerator or air conditioner recover
and recycle the old ODS so they are not released into the atmosphere.
 When renovating your house make sure that old insulation foams
containing ODS are disposed of as environmentally hazardous waste
 Suggest school activities to increase awareness of the problem and to
initiate local action.