Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
ozone-depletion reactions. The more extremely cold days, the more PSCs and the larger that year's ozone hole
will likely be.
Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
In 1988, a similar but less severe hole was found in the ozone layer above the Arctic, occurring between Febru-
ary and June. The Arctic hole caused an 11 percent to 38 percent ozone loss (as compared to the 50 percent
seasonal loss in Antarctica). As the ozone hole breaks up, it may move and linger over North America, Europe,
and Asia. However, because the hole is not yet as thin as that in Antarctica, the increase in UVB radiation will
not be nearly as extreme, so the effect on humans and local ecosystems will be less dramatic.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
are the primary man-made compounds involved in the depletion of ozone. They
have commonly been used as refrigerants in air conditioners, refrigerators, and aerosol propellants. CFCs also
