Activity 3 Answer the following questions below.

1. What greenhouse gas is involved in the production of ozone?

The greenhouse gas that is involved in the production of ozone are:

Carbon dioxide (CO2): Carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere through

burning fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oil), solid waste, trees, and other
biological materials, and because of certain chemical reactions (e.g.,
manufacture of cement). Carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere (or
"sequestered") when it is absorbed by plants as part of the biological carbon
cycle.

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 and by the decay of organic waste in
municipal solid waste landfills.

Nitrous oxide (N2O): Nitrous oxide is emitted during agricultural and

industrial activities, combustion of fossil fuels and solid waste, as well as
during treatment of wastewater.

Fluorinated gases: Hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur

hexafluoride, and nitrogen trifluoride are synthetic, powerful greenhouse
gases that are emitted from a variety of industrial processes. Fluorinated
gases are sometimes used as substitutes for stratospheric ozone-depleting
substances (e.g., chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, and halons).
These gases are typically emitted in smaller quantities, but because they are
potent greenhouse gases, they are sometimes referred to as High Global
Warming Potential gases ("High GWP gases").

2. What are the most abundant CFCs in the atmosphere?

CFC-12 (CCl2F2) and CFC-11 (CCl3F) are the two most abundant
CFCs in the atmosphere and are present at levels of 0.5 and 0.25 ppb (parts
per billion), respectively. CF4 is the most abundant PFC and is found at a
concentration of 0.08 ppb in the atmosphere.

3. What are the different human activities that mostly emit CO2?

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 Human activities—mostly burning of coal and other fossil fuels, but
also cement production, deforestation, and other landscape changes

4. What is the most important greenhouse gas on Earth?

The most important greenhouse gas on Earth is Carbon dioxide because

carbon dioxide is constantly being exchanged among the atmosphere,
ocean, and land surface as it is both produced and absorbed by many
microorganisms, plants, and animals.

5. What are the most powerful gases on Earth?

The three most powerful long lived greenhouse gases in the

atmosphere are carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.

6. What causes the depletion of ozone layer in year 1979-2000?

The caused is the release of CFCs and subsequent chemical reactions

7. What is Photodissociation?

Is the dissociation of a chemical compound by the action of light.

8. What is the most potent greenhouse gas and why?

Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is one of the most potent greenhouse gases known
because its potency stems from its intense absorption and its extremely long
atmospheric lifetime of 3200 years. SF6 is present in small amounts in
fluorites and degassing from these minerals provides a small natural source
which results in a natural background concentration of 0.01 ppt. SF6 is a
useful industrial chemical used as an insulating gas in electrical switching
equipment.

9. What is the difference between ozone and ozone layer?

The ozone layer is a layer in Earth's atmosphere that absorbs most of the
Sun's UV radiation. It contains high concentrations of ozone, although it is still
ridiculously small regarding ordinary oxygen. Ozone is a gas made up of three
oxygen atoms (O3). It occurs naturally in tiny amounts in the upper
atmosphere (the stratosphere). Ozone protects life on Earth from the Sun's
ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

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10. What is the difference between natural and enhanced Greenhouse Effect?

The natural greenhouse effect is the lower atmosphere which is likely to

warm, changing weather and climate. Thus, the enhanced greenhouse effect
is additional to the natural greenhouse effect and is due to human activity
changing the make-up of the atmosphere. (The enhanced greenhouse effect
is often referred to as global warming.)

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