PartIII.ExhaustibleResources.pptVIP

Part III. Exhaustible Resources Ozone Global Climate Change B. Energy A. Ozone Chapter 7 Ozone depletion  global warming Chapter 7 focuses on two global environmental problems: ozone depletion and global warming. BOTH ARE: The result of pollutants modifying basic atmospheric chemistry and altering atmospheric processes and function. Caused by stock pollutants that persist in the atmosphere for long periods (up to 100 years) after their emission into the atmosphere. Global in the sense that the environmental problem is independent of location of emissions. And in each case, there is potential for significant global environmental change and significant impacts on social, economic, and ecological systems. Ozone depletion  global warming Much more difficult to estimate damage function for these types of pollutants The only way to increase the number of observations for use in statistical analysis is to observe changes over time. Because these pollutants persist through time, it is very important to calculate the damages that current emissions will generate in the future. While there is no need to account for geographic variability in the effects of emissions, also means that this problem can not be dealt with by 1 country. Depletion of the Ozone Layer The basic problem: the emission of a set of chemicals that trigger a reaction in the atmosphere, causing ozone to be converted to oxygen. Ozone blocks ultraviolet radiation, oxygen does not. As Figure 7.1 illustrates, the stratosphere (outer layer of atmosphere) is separated from the troposphere (lower atmosphere) by the tropopause. The lowest level of the stratosphere is warmer than the highest level of the troposphere and there is little mixing of air across this temperature inversion. Pollutions that make their way to the stratosphere tend to stay there. Causes of Ozone Depletion The pollutants that most adversely affect the ozone layer are fluorocarbons. Most of the depletion of the ozone layer has been at