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The greenhouse effect refers to the phenomenon whereby earth’s temperature increases as a result of heat being trapped in its atmosphere. The greenhouse gases are gasses that trap heat and then warm up earth with this heat. These gases include carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane and CFC. The percentage of carbon dioxide has been increasing over the past 10 years due to the increasing usage of fossil fuels.

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Greenhouse effect can be likened to the glass house effect. The glass house is used in countries with four seasons for agricultural purposes. It allows light to penetrate but disallows the reflection of heat energy. This creates a warming effect. Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and methane. The trapped heat energy increases the earth’s temperature. The warming of the earth which is referred to as the green house effect leads to the following negative effects a) Melting of ice at the poles b) Increase in sea level c) Climatic changes d) Increase in the rate of disease outbreak for example diseases like malaria dengue fever.

Global Warming

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Greenhouse gases are trapped and build up in the atmosphere near the earth’s surface. This makes the earth warmer than normal. The warning effect of the trapped greenhouse gases causes changes in the weather patterns on a global scale. Rainfall pattern changes, sea level rises and droughts prevail.

The Thinning of the Ozone Layer

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Ozone which forms a layer in the stratosphere is made up of three atoms of oxygen (O3). Stratospheric ozone protects the Earths’ surface from high levels of biologically damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), the main made chemicals, are implicated in ozone loss. CFCs are a group of compounds made from chlorine (C1), fluorine (F) and carbon (C). They are by products of industrial activity, not poisonous, they cannot be burnt and are very stable because are not reactive with other compounds.

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CFC’s are not broken down in the troposphere. They are able to reach the stratosphere (where the ozone is). Because of their physical characteristics, CFC are ideal for many industrial processes a) CFCs and use as a coolant in refrigerators, in air conditioners for automobiles, hoses and buildings. This CFC will only be released into the atmosphere when the coolant is broken. Alternative coolant compounds are now available which do not damage the ozone layer b) for manufacturing foam used for packing materials, mattresses and insulation. CFCs are released into the atmosphere during the manufacture during the manufacture processes c) used as propellants in aerosol cans in the cosmetic industry, and in insecticides. CFCs are released into the atmosphere when an aerosol is used. This can be overcome by using an alternative like oxygen instead of the propellant gases used in aerosols or to use aerosols with a pump system.

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CFCs are extremely stable compounds. But when they reach the stratosphere CFCs are broken down by ultraviolet rays. This is how CFC depletes the ozone layer in the stratosphere a) Ultraviolet rays strikes a CFC molecule causing a chlorine atom to break away b) the free chlorine atom then collides with an ozone molecule and combines with an oxygen atom to form chlorine monoxide leaving an oxygen molecule.

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c) when a free oxygen atom then collides with chlorine monoxide two atoms of oxygen. The free chlorine atom continues to destroy the ozone molecules. Thus it is advisable to avoid long periods of exposure to direct sunlight d) an increase in ultraviolet rays harms the ecosystem by interfering with nitrogen assimilation by microorganisms. Nitrogen is an important element in the synthesis of protein. This will cause the decline in rice production and other cultivated crops.

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Ways to Reduce Ozone Depletion

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Reduce the use of CFC and replace CFC with HCFC (Hydrochloroflurocarbon). Deactivate CFC before release into the atmosphere. Reduce the usage of materials that uses ozone depleting substances like tetra-chloromethane and methyl-chloroform in the production of polystyrene.