Destroying the Ozone, one gas at a time

Recently, I read the article “Four new harmful gases threaten Earth’s ozone: Study” by Rick Docksai that was posted on March 11^th, 2014 on Science Recorder.

Link- http://www.sciencerecorder.com/news/four-new-harmful-gases-threaten-earths-ozone-study/

                In the article it was stated that four new gases were found that were contributing to the depletion of the ozone. These new gases are, of course, caused by humans and they are being considered as greenhouse gases. A couple of these newly found gases are gathering at rates that are causing researchers to show concern.

                Johannes Laube had said in the article that, “Their increasing concentrations thus hold implications for global warming, as well.” According to Laube and a bunch of his colleagues, these four gases are contributing to Global Warming and the main culprit, CFC-113a, is coming from agricultural insecticides. It seems outrageous to me that farmers are still using fertilizers when it looks like they are causing more harm than help. However, the source was just an educated guess and the actual source of CFC-113a is still unknown to researchers.  

                Scientists had figured out that these gases were affecting the atmosphere by looking at air samples taken from the 1970’s to now and in their findings they saw that these four new gases were only popping up only recently. This led the scientists to believe that it was the result of humans and our more modern and recent activities involving greenhouse gases.  

                There was an agreement known as the Montreal Protocol which banned 13 of the CFC’s causing ozone depletion and in 2010 there was another agreement that added to the protocol that banned all CFC’s. I believe a new extension should be brought in this year or in some of the coming years banning these four new gases because it seems we are still destroying the ozone and therefor killing ourselves. However, this was caught in the early stages and it can be helped now. Like the other CFC’s, these four new gases take decades to break down so they will affect the atmosphere for long periods of time.

                I remember in biology class we were studying biogeochemical cycles and the topic of human contributions to these cycles had come up. Humans contributed to all of the cycles and some of the consequences were disastrous such as more extreme weather events and global climate change. So these new greenhouse gases are having basically the same consequence so I would strongly recommend cutting down on these greenhouse gas emissions.

                I have done other projects and a blog post that included the effects of global warming and greenhouse gases on the ozone layer and they aren’t very good. These gases are just circulating in the air and trapping heat causing warmer climates and glaciers to melt. I have read some posts on how global warming is affecting polar bears and other arctic animals by destroying their habitats. It’s unfair to animals because we are killing them and destroying their homes when they haven’t done anything to deserve it.

                I believe that researchers should continue their work and try to find all of the greenhouse gases that are invading our atmosphere. Then it is our job, as people, to help eliminate the sources of these contaminants and it is the job of our government and the rest of the governments around the world to crack down on factories and industries that are emitting greenhouse gases. Everyone just has to work together to fix what we had started.

                                        http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/research/themes/o3/