The Ozone Layer

Term Paper TitleThe Ozone Layer
# of Words571
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)2.28

The Ozone Layer

From far off in space, you can see our home surrounded by a blue ribbon with a faint tint.  The ribbon is almost transparent and is used as a filter to protect all living organisms from the sun’s hazardous radiation.  It lets just the right amount of light through to supply everything with energy.  We know this ribbon, or filter, as the ozone layer.
     
     The ozone layer is needed to support life on Earth.  In the past thirty, to forty years, it has become evident that something is eating away at the ozone.  Eventually, it became clear to scientists and the government that certain human activities are changing our ozone, and that the shield needs to be protected from all of the factors that are making it disappear.  There are many factors that affect how quickly the ozone depletes.

The main problem with the decaying ozone layer consists of people being careless.  Many times, the chemicals released into the air by people drift into the ozone and form harmful chemical bonds with ozone molecules. One example would be chlorofluorocarbons or CFC’s.  CFC’s were commonly found in spray cans during the early 1970’s but were invented in the 1920’s.  They contain chlorine, fluorine, and carbon atoms which all form bonds with the rare ozone molecules.  A few more products with CFC’s are coolants for refrigerators and air conditioners, foam products, such as cups, and insulation for houses.

Considering that ozone molecules are so rare, it is extremely important to keep them intact.  Without them, radiation would leak into the earth at tremendous amounts.  The radiation comes in the form of UV rays that cause many types of cancer.  Pollution also plays ...

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