What causes ozone depletion? How does it affect the world's environments?

Question

What causes ozone depletion? How does it affect the world's environments?

Answer 1

My Range Rover.

Answer 2

We use energy to manufacture our products and to heat, cool, ventilate and light our facilities. Using fossil fuels, either directly or to generate electricity, results in the emission of CO2.

It is now accepted that chlorine and bromine compounds in the atmosphere cause the ozone depletion observed in the `ozone hole' over Antarctica and over the North Pole. However, the relative importance of chlorine and bromine for ozone destruction in different regions of the atmosphere has not yet been clearly explained. Nearly all of the chlorine, and half of the bromine in the stratosphere, where most of the depletion has been observed, comes from human activities.  

Answer 3

The ozone the weather man reports on is not O3 but NO2,exhaust from cars. The ozone up about 150 miles is O3. The solar winds are collideing with the earth's magnetic field. There is no gas from here that gets that high. The CFC never came clost, even hydrogen does not get that high. O3 to be stable requires an electrical voltage to hold it there.The ozone layer is not depleted.There is much more info but U would not understand yet...

Answer 4

Ozone depletion occurs in two main ways.  One is natural and the other anthropogenic (human caused).  the natural break down is known as the Chapman Mechanism which involves UV-B and UV-C rays breaking ozone into and oxygen molecule and an oxygen atom.  This is a repeating dynamic equilibrium however because its a continuous loop of formation and break down.

The anthropogenic cause is from halogens (chlorine, flourine and bromine).  These are most commonly found in CFC's.  What happens is that when a CFC is emitted into the atmosphere (its in refrigerants and other appliances) the solar radiation will strip the molecule of a chlorine/bromine/flourine free radical.  This is highly reactive so it instantly bonds to an ozone (O3) molecule.  Unfortunately its splits the O3 into O2 (breathable oxygen) and O.  This is not good because it breaks down the ozone layer.  That is the main way that the ozone layer is depleted.

When the ozone layer gets depleted more harmful solar radiation is allowed to enter the atmosphere and hit the earth.  this can cause skin cancer as well as other mutations in all organisms.  Certain plants wont be able to cope with higher radiation levels and they too can begin to die.  the increase in the radiation may cause further warming of the atmosphere, although there are mixed opinions on that.  All ecosystems from the rainforest to the ocean are affected.

Hope this helps.