Picture: NASA's Upper Atmosphere research satellite
This article talks about the ozone hole above Antarctica. Ozone is a gas in the stratosphere which filters out harmful UV rays from the sun. These UV rays are known to cause skin cancer, and stop plants from growing. So it is obvious that we need this layer of ozone. The problem is that we're depleting the ozone layer very quickly. Every spring this "Ozone Hole" opens up above Antarctica and allows in some UV rays. This hole is getting bigger and bigger, and we need to stop it.
My opinion on this discovery is that we need to be more aware of what we put in the atmosphere. Our everyday consumer products that are sprayed into the air, or have anything to do with the atmosphere, are most likely making this Ozone hole bigger and harder for us to control. I think that we need to know what we're using before we use it (ex. Spray sunscreen, hairspray), and how it affects the ozone layer and the atmosphere in general. without this layer, we will all die, and I like living, so lets just be more careful.
1.What are some ways you can do to help preserve the Ozone layer?
2.Do you think your actions as an individual can affect the ozone layer? Explain.
3. What can mankind as a whole do to protect the ozone layer?
Opinion/Reflection: This is a very scary article to read. The whole entire idea of global warming is scary. The destruction of the ozone; I belive, is far more of a threat to our planety at this time than anything else. The ozone layer in essense is what keeps our planet from overheating from the sun, and if that layer is destroyed it poses the threat of destruction especially it there were to be a hole over antarctica which there is here. the lack of the ozone over antarctica would overtime cause more and more ice to melt and go into the ocean and potentially destroy coastlines all over the world, and since we're also suffering from a massive population increase global warming could lead us to reach our carrying capacity sooner than expected. We as the inhabitants of this planet need to stop this horrific process by reducing the amount of poputants that we exaust into the air contantly. The more polutants that we put out there the more inreversable this situation becomes. in my opinion as of right now we are doing alot to protect our planet, but we could still be doing so much more.
ReplyDeleteQuestion 2: Do you think your actions as an individual can affect the ozone layer? Explain.
Answer: I think that it is very possible for one person to impact the ozone layer, maybe not just by what we do in terms of poluting, but by what we do in terms of poluting in relationship to other people. I know that may not make sense, but if one person were to chose to reduce the amount of polutants that they release into the environment it wouldn't really by itself change anything. However, it is the human nature of others to follow the acts of an indivisual. Although there is only a slight chance, it is very possible that one persons idea could spead a long way.
Opinion/Reflection: The ozone layer and it's constant shrinking is very scary to think about. I know that after hearing about this for the first time, I immediately tried to use less aerosol products, which isn't easy! I just wish that everyone could come together and make some laws about the amount of emissions and chemicals you can out into the air before it's too late. Perhaps with the next generation, we can teach them about the ozone layer and its importance at an early age so that they can understand just how it is essential to life.
ReplyDeleteQuestion #1: As an individual, the only thing you can really do is try and limit the amount of smoke and and chemicals you put into the air. You can do this by using regular sunscreen instead of aerosol and taking public transportation rather than driving. It would be even better if you walked or biked to wherever you needed to go.
I have heard a lot about the ozone hole over Antarctica, and I am shocked that more people are not trying to do something about it, especially since it could affect their lives. I agree that we need to work harder to be aware and to protect our atmosphere.
ReplyDeleteQuestion #3
Humans can do many thing to help stop the damage to the ozone layer, such as watching what they buy and what they spray (hairspray and sunscreen). If we all work together I'm sure we can help the ozone.
I think that we have all been hearing a lot about the ozone layer lately. Believe me I do not think that this a bad thing. I agree with you Alex. I like living. However I believe that this is unfortunately going to be a very hard problem to solve. Below you will find a link to an article on NASA's official
ReplyDeletewebsite on a recent study that they conducted on the ozone layer's situation. I was very encouraged by their results.
http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/environment/ozone_recovering.html