Global Environmental Problems
The Ozone Layer
To answer the following questions the following web sites may be helpful.
pages 456-458 and 481-483 in your textbook
What is the formula for ozone?
Where is the ozone that protects us located in the atmosphere?
Describe ozone.
Ozone protects us from __________________.
What unit is used to describe the concentration of ozone? ________________
Ultraviolet light is actually divided into 3 areas, UV A, UV B, and UV C. All are damaging. Although UV C is the most damaging (followed by UV B and then A) other molecules (nitrogen and oxygen) help absorb UV C. Since ozone is our only defense against UV B, scientists are very worried about the depletion of the ozone layer. What are some health effects of UV B?
What types of molecules are thought to be depleting the ozone layer? What is their major use?
Explain and write reactions describing the breakdown of ozone by CFC's.
Describe with reactions the natural cycle of formation and destruction of ozone.
Global Warming
The temperature of the earth and any other planet depends on what 3 factors?
Describe how water vapor and carbon dioxide found naturally in the atmosphere keep the earth warmer than it would otherwise be. This is the "natural greenhouse effect".
How is humanity altering the energy balance of our planet? What are the major "greenhouse gases" that we are adding to the atmosphere?
What other factors are reducing global warming at the present?
What global trends are we seeing that are consistent with the consequences we can expect from increasing the concentrations of "greenhouse gases"?