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by petunia on September 11th, 2004

petunia

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Could the ozone layer by repaired by somehow replenishing the atmosphere with more ozone?

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  • by Patrick OReilly on March 17th, 2005

    Patrick OReilly

    Ozone is formed in the stratosphere naturally by the interaction of the sun's rays, namely UV light, and oxygen. Ozone also absorbs UV light, which is how it protects us on Earth from these damaging rays. There are, and likely always have been, natural ozone holes over the poles, especially during each pole's winter months, as there is little or no sunlight reaching the atmosphere over the pole in the winter to create the ozone. But yes, there has been a measurable reduction in ozone in the stratosphere due to man, mainly due to use of chloroflourocarbons (CFC's).

    The previous writer mentions greenhouse gases as a cause, and you should understand that the carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that are growing in our atmosphere have nothing to do with ozone and any ozone depletion. The "greenhouse effect" and growing carbon monoxide in our atmosphere is a totally seperate discussion than the ozone depletion of our atmosphere. Our ozone layer exists in our stratosphere, roughly starting at 30 - 40,000 feet above Earth's surface. Most processes mentioned above do not directly affect the stratosphere, as there is generally little mixing between the troposphere (the lowest layer in Earth's atmosphere where we live) and the stratosphere. Dust and ash from large volcanic eruptions can enter the stratosphere, and due to it's stability, can remain there for a long time.

    It is actually combustion-type processes at Earth's surface that CREATE ozone, especially during summer, when volatile organic compounds (VOC's) react with sunlight to form ozone.

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  • by Pete_Vanderlai on December 30th, 2004

    Pete_Vanderlai

    The ozone layer's condition fluctuates between poor and excellent and the size of the holes measured in the ozone layer also goes up and down. Theoretically, given the appropriate conditions, the ceasing of using fossil fuels as a major supply of energy and fuel and the banning of the use of motor vehicles which do not meet strict emissions standards, the ozone layer would "repair" itself. The hole in the ozone layer, given the right conditions "heal up". It must be noted that natural events such as volcanic erruptions can also have a dramatic impact on the ozone layer. It is even thought that holes in the ozone layer existed long before mankind's industrial revolution.

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