Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Depletion of the ozone layer poses a problem. It can affect the amount of UV
radiation reaching the earth and can increase the rate of skin cancer and other related
health issues. Indeed, depletions of ozone have been observed over the Antarctic
regions and, to a lesser extent in the Arctic regions, depleted ozone has been linked
to the increased ClO
x
in these regions (Figure 6.46).
With the signing of the Montreal Protocol, the industrialized nations of the world
curtailed production of CFCs. This action has slowed the rate of increase of CFCs
in the atmosphere. It is encouraging to see that industries have now replaced CFCs
with alternatives that are
environmental friendly
. It is possible to use a simple box
model for the atmosphere to predict the effect of a voluntary reduction of CFC
emissions.
61
62
63
64
65 66
Latitude (degrees South)
67
68
69
70
71
72
CIO mixing ratio in ppt
O
3
mixing ratio ppb
FIGURE 6.46
Simultaneously observed ClO and O
3
concentrations obtained on September
21, 1987, by the ER-2 in the Antarctic, with corrections made for variations in potential tem-
perature. (Reprinted from Anderson et al. 1989.
Journal of Geophysical Research
94(D9),
465-479, American Geophysical Union. With permission.)
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