YOBE STATE UNIVERSITY DAMATURU (YSU)

ASSIGNMENT SUBMITTED

BY

DAUDA HARUNA YAHAYA

(U/GEO/19/055)

TO

DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT

OF A COURSE, INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE (GEO 1206)

APRIL, 2021

INTRODUCTION
Like children playing in the mud, humans have dirtied the Earth's atmosphere and
environment in multiple ways. The Industrial Revolution sparked a huge advance
in technology and development, but it led to air pollution and contaminants being
released into the air. The human impact on the Earth’s atmosphere and climate
remains a major issue in ecological politics today, and presents a problem that
could threaten the planet for years.

GREENHOUSE GASES

Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, contributes to the

greenhouse effect, which causes the atmosphere to trap heat, making
temperatures rise in the oceans and on the planet. According to the U.S. National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the concentrations of carbon dioxide in
the atmosphere have increased by 38 percent since 1750, while methane
concentrations have gone up 148 percent during the same period. Most scientists
attribute this increase to the widespread combustion of fossil fuels.

DEPLETED OZONE LAYER

The ozone layer, a protective covering of the atmosphere, helps to block

ultraviolet radiation. In May of 1985, scientists from the British Antarctic Survey
discovered that something was destroying ozone molecules above Antarctica.
Study of the problem traced the destruction to chlorofluorocarbons and other
ozone-depleting chemicals, and in 1987, countries around the world signed the
Montreal Protocol to discontinue the use of Chlorofluorocarbons.
Chlorofluorocarbons include chemicals typically found in aerosol sprays, in
refrigerants used in air conditioners and in blowing agents for foam and other
packing materials.

What Is Harming the Ozone Layer?

The ozone layer is a section of the Earth's atmosphere filled with molecules that
block harmful ultraviolet radiation from reaching the surface. In 1985, scientists
from the British Antarctic Survey discovered that ozone concentrations over the
South Pole were decreasing at an alarming rate, creating a hole in the protective
layer. This led to a scientific search for the culprits, as well as a new
understanding of the ways in which humans affect the environment.

Chlorofluorocarbons and Ozone-Depleting Substances

Studies by the British Antarctic Survey and the U.S. National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration concluded that chemicals used primarily in
refrigeration and fire prevention were depleting the ozone layer.
Chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons and halons all contain chlorine
and bromine atoms, which are notable for their ability to destroy ozone
molecules. While there are natural sources of chlorine that can reach the upper
atmosphere, studies by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA,
suggest that only 16 percent of the chlorine that reaches the ozone layer comes
from natural sources. Other artificial sources of chlorine, such as swimming pool
additives, are too unstable to make their way to the ozone layer and cause
damage.

Ozone Depletion

During the polar winter, ozone-depleting molecules ascend into the upper
reaches of the atmosphere in clouds of ice crystals. When summer returns,
sunlight hits this layer of particles and breaks the bonds of the
Chlorofluorocarbons and other chemicals. This releases the chlorine and bromine
into the atmosphere. There, the molecules catalyze the ozone molecules,
breaking the atomic bonds and stealing oxygen atoms. According to the EPA, a
single chlorine atom can destroy as many as 100,000 ozone molecules, depleting
the layer much faster than it can be replenished naturally. In addition to the
Antarctic hole, Chlorofluorocarbons have been responsible for an overall thinning
in the ozone layer, and the development of temporary gaps in its protection in
other parts of the world.

The Montreal Protocol

The scale of the ozone-depletion problem, once discovered, prompted quick

action. In 1987, countries around the world signed the Montreal Protocol and
pledged to phase out the use of Chlorofluorocarbons and other ozone-depleting
substances in the coming years. As of 2012, 197 countries had ratified the treaty,
successfully ended the use of many of the targeted chemicals and significantly
reduced others.

What Are the Sources of Chlorofluorocarbons?

Chlorofluorocarbons, also known as Chlorofluorocarbons, consist of chemical

compounds made up of chlorine, fluorine and carbon. Chlorofluorocarbons are
particularly harmful when released into the atmosphere because of their
destructive reaction with O-zone particles, which provide the Earth with a
protective layer against UV radiation. Since 1995 most countries have virtually
eliminated CFC production, but a few specialized products still contain
Chlorofluorocarbons.

Refrigerators and Air Conditioners

The most common emitter of Chlorofluorocarbons are refrigerants, particularly

those used after the 1930s. Dupont brand named their new product “Freon” and
various other brand names produced the CFC-based refrigerant worldwide. When
the coolant used in old refrigerators, cars, air conditioners and other machines is
not properly disposed of, it leaks Chlorofluorocarbons into the atmosphere as
liquids evaporate or work their way into the soil.

Aircraft Halon

Aviation regulations in some countries still require fire suppression systems

outfitted with Halon, a coolant containing Chlorofluorocarbons. As of 2011, there
is no safe, effective alternative. The industry must follow certain safety measures
to dispose of the this dangerous chemical responsibly and to recycle the material
when possible.

Aerosol Sprays

Aerosol cans and propellant liquids used gasses containing Chlorofluorocarbons

for a long time. They were phased out of aerosol production in 1999 in favor of
less harmful hydrocarbon alternatives. However, since CFC molecules have a
lifetime of 20 to 100 years in the stratosphere, the damage done in previous
decades continues to make an impact.

Rogue Chlorofluorocarbons

As refrigerants and aerosol cans containing Chlorofluorocarbons become older

and more obsolete, people tend to forget about them, leaving them to leak and
further contaminate the atmosphere. Researchers at the University of East Anglia
are working on methods to pinpoint local sources of CFC exposure, such as old
Chlorofluorocarbons refrigerators. They collect air from the stratosphere and use
mass spectrometers to determine the chemical makeup of CFC contamination.

AIR POLLUTION

Humans also affect the atmosphere locally through air pollution. Compounds
released by fossil fuel combustion often create ozone molecules at the ground
level. This poses a threat to people with breathing difficulties, and can damage
the lungs with long-term exposure. The EPA regularly publishes air quality alerts
for affected areas, and advises people with breathing difficulties or environmental
sensitivities to stay inside on days where ozone concentrations are highest.

LONG-TERM EFFECTS

Even after banning certain chemicals or cleaning up the air, it will take some time
for the atmosphere to heal. Even though Chlorofluorocarbons were banned in the
U.S. in 1985, their molecules live a long time in the atmosphere. The British
Antarctic Survey estimates that the hole in the ozone layer may take as many as
50 years to disappear, provided no new threats to the ozone come into play.

In the same way, the Earth’s ecosystem re-absorbs carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere very slowly, which means that even stabilizing CO2 output levels may
not be enough to prevent major atmospheric changes. Studies by the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change suggest that even if human beings
cut carbon output levels by 50 percent, the Earth would still see a net increase in
atmospheric carbon dioxide over the next century due to the changes already in
motion.
LONG-TERM HEALING

While the reduction of Chlorofluorocarbons and ozone-depleting chemicals has

been on track since 1987, the healing of the ozone layer is a slow process.
Chlorofluorocarbons are extremely long-lived and can take a considerable amount
of time to drift through the atmosphere before they do their damage. The British
Antarctic Survey estimates that the ozone hole over the Antarctic will continue to
exist every summer for at least 50 years before the layer returns to its natural
state, as of 2012.

REFERENCE

Science (2018). Human Impact on the Earth's Atmosphere. Retrive from

https://sciencing.com/sources-cfcs-8405334.html