Mysterious new man-made gases pose threat to ozone layer

[sky otter]

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-26485048

9 March 2014 Last updated at 14:09 ET

Mysterious new man-made gases pose threat to ozone layer

By Matt McGrath Environment correspondent, BBC News




Dealing with the hole in the ozone layer has been one of the most successful international science projects

Scientists have identified four new man-made gases that are contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer.

Two of the gases are accumulating at a rate that is causing concern among researchers.

Worries over the growing ozone hole have seen the production of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gases restricted since the mid 1980s.

But the precise origin of these new, similar substances remains a mystery, say scientists.

Lying in the atmosphere, between 15 and 30km above the surface of the Earth, the ozone layer plays a critical role in blocking harmful UV rays, which cause cancers in humans and reproductive problems in animals.

"We don't know where the new gases are being emitted from and this should be investigated"
Dr Johannes Laube

University of East Anglia
Scientists from the British Antarctic Survey were the first to discover a huge "hole" in the ozone over Antarctica in 1985.

The evidence quickly pointed to CFC gases, which were invented in the 1920s, and were widely used in refrigeration and as aerosol propellants in products like hairsprays and deodorants.

Remarkably, global action was rapidly agreed to tackle CFCs and the Montreal Protocol to limit these substances came into being in 1987.

A total global ban on production came into force in 2010.

Now, researchers from the University of East Anglia have discovered evidence of four new gases that can destroy ozone and are getting into the atmosphere from as yet unidentified source.



We don't know where the new gases are being emitted from and this should be investigated"
Dr Johannes Laube
University of East Anglia


The Halley Research Station in Antarctica, where the hole in the ozone layer was first discovered
Three of the gases are CFCs and one is a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC), which can also damage ozone.

"Our research has shown four gases that were not around in the atmosphere at all until the 1960s which suggests they are man-made," said lead researcher Dr Johannes Laube.

The scientists discovered the gases by analysing polar firm, perennial snow pack. Air extracted from this snow is a natural archive of what was in the atmosphere up to 100 years ago.

Grim discovery

The researchers also looked at modern air samples, collected at remote Cape Grim in Tasmania.

They estimate that about 74,000 tonnes of these gases have been released into the atmosphere. Two of the gases are accumulating at significant rates.

"The identification of these four new gases is very worrying as they will contribute to the destruction of the ozone layer," said Dr Laube.

"We don't know where the new gases are being emitted from and this should be investigated. Possible sources include feedstock chemicals for insecticide production and solvents for cleaning electronic components."

"What's more, the three CFCs are being destroyed very slowly in the atmosphere - so even if emissions were to stop immediately, they will still be around for many decades to come," he added.

Other scientists acknowledged that while the current concentrations of these gases are small and they don't present an immediate concern, work would have to be done to identify their origin.

"This paper highlights that ozone depletion is not yet yesterday's story," said Prof Piers Forster, from the University of Leeds.

"The concentrations found in this study are tiny. Nevertheless, this paper reminds us we need to be vigilant and continually monitor the atmosphere for even small amounts of these gases creeping up, either through accidental or unplanned emissions.

"Of the four species identified, CFC-113a seems the most worrying as there is a very small but growing emission source somewhere, maybe from agricultural insecticides. We should find it and take it out of production."

The research has been published in the journal, Nature Geoscience.

Follow Matt on Twitter @mattmcgrathbbc



Mysterious gases
The four new gases have been identified as CFC-112, CFC112a, CFC-113a, HCFC-133a
CFC-113a has been listed as an "agrochemical intermediate for the manufacture of pyrethroids", a type of insecticide once widely used in agriculture
CFC-113a and HCFC-133a are intermediaries in the production of widely used refrigerants
CFC-112 and 112a may have been used in the production of solvents used to clean electrical components




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[robomont]

I agree with most of what you posted.
What i disagree with is the level of breakdown.the uv getting through should be breaking it down way faster than we can produce it.think of all the world wide uv getting through.even at the equator uv is getting through and uv is what breaks chemicals down into their base ingredients.hydrogen carbon etc.i still suspect things arent what they are being told to us.

[PLAYSWITHMACHINES]

R-410A is a near-azeotropic blend of R-32 and R-125. The US Environmental Protection Agency recognizes it as an acceptable substitute for R-22 in household and light commercial air conditioning systems.[13] It appears to have gained widespread market acceptance under several trade names.

Not quite, most of these 'new environment freindly' refrigerants from R211 upwards, are so-called 'heavy' flourocarbons.

They thought they had the solution because these heavier refrigerants would not rise into the upper atmosphere & destroy the ozone.
WRONG.
They do, it just takes 10 years longer.
Let's see, we started using these 'green' refrigerants about 10 years ago, hmmm................

Cfc's are catalysts, that means one molecule of CFC can destroy thousands of ozone molecules.
And it may be that these heavy ones are splitting (probably due to lightning etc) and that's your source.

Here is the full list of refrigerants, just look at all the HCFC's and go look at your fridge, the type should be noted on a small label inside the door, or on the back.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_refrigerants

Now, i know a certain BIG company who'se policy is to carefully collect the gas from old fridges & return it for recycling / chemical breakdown & disposal.

Do they hell, they use the balloons at parties for their kids, but mostly they just pop them in the back of the van when no-ones looking, it saves a lot of paperwork apparently

Worried? You should be..........

[robomont]

Same goes for most companies in usa.

[PLAYSWITHMACHINES]

Right you are Robo

Truth is, my brother was pssd at this, and the fact that R12 was so expensive.

So he devised a way of pumping it out of the fridge, right down to a vacuum, at the same time filtering & drying it, and pumping it into a 60 litre tank.

We were one of the first companies to use 100% recycling effectively

Then the tax man came & we had to quit
Hell we made a lot of dough, and helped the environment at the same time, still got a few litres of R22, which i want to freeze some tesla coils with

We had a stretch limo with one of the first mobiles, Armani suits, the lot

[The Matrix Traveller]

OK some personal experience Re. OZONE. In the 1970's I worked as a "Sales Engineer"
involved with Environmental Control and associated products.

We sold "OZONE Generators", which were used in Swimming Pools, Hospitals and other Industries
where such Generators were used to Oxidise (Burn) certain unwanted emissions, as well as destroying
a wide range of Bacteria.

Facts...

1.      Ozone has to be generated on sight, as it can't be stored i.e. in Air conditioning "Rooms" !
2.      Ozone is Unstable and returns to O² very rapidly.


The main Generator of Ozone in our atmosphere is through O² being exposed to UV !
The other way it is being formed is through Electrical Discharge.

The amount of Ozone in our upper Atmosphere is very, very, very, very small and is produced
where Sunlight acts on some Oxygen (O²)


http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/gen06/gen06385.htm
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sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D.,
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For assistance with NEWTON contact a System Operator (help@newton.dep.anl.gov), or at Argonne's
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Quote;

Ozone Density and Place in Atmosphere
Name: Adam
Status: student
Grade: 9-12
Location: FL
Date: August 2007


Question:
The Ozone layer has O3, and the air we breathe has O2 and nitrogen gas, both of which are less dense
than ozone. Why is it that the ozone layer is farther away from the earth than the air we breath,
despite the fact that gravity should have a stronger pull on it?

Replies:
Adam,

Ozone is formed when free oxygen atoms (O) react with oxygen gas (O2).

In the stratosphere, free oxygen atoms are formed when ultraviolet radiation strikes oxygen gas
and breaks it up into free oxygen atoms, which can either recombine to form oxygen gas or react
with other oxygen gas to form ozone. In this case, ozone is formed in the upper atmosphere and stay there.

On the other hand, free oxygen atoms can also be formed when nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is irradiated
with light to form NO and O. The free oxygen can then react with O2 to form O3.
Thus, ozone does form near the ground as well.

When ozone is formed near the ground, it is considered a pollutant to the air we breath.
It is much more reactive than oxygen and can pose a health hazard.

In contrast, when ozone is formed in the upper atmosphere, the high reactivity of ozone allows
it to filter harmful UV radiation.

Greg (Roberto Gregorius)

Ozone is created in the stratosphere because hard UV rays from the sun break oxygen molecules.

Ozone is not created closer to the ground because all the hard UV rays are absorbed higher up in the atmosphere.

Well, okay--ozone can be created closer to the ground, but by a different process.

Then, nitrogen oxides and sunlight catalyze the oxidation of hydrocarbons, producing ozone ("smog")
along the way.

The sunlight required for that reaction does not need to be as energetic as the hard UV needed
in the stratospheric reaction.

Ozone is reactive enough that it breaks down fairly quickly.

In the stratosphere, ozone is replenished by the hard UV. (Except in the ozone hole, because it's dark then!)
Closer to the ground, it is not replenished.
That is why the "ozone layer" is at high altitude.

Richard Barrans
Department of Physics and Astronomy
University of Wyoming

The presence of ozone in the atmosphere is determined by how it is produced.
It is produced at high altitude by a photochemical reaction between ultraviolet radiation from the Sun
and oxygen in the upper atmosphere. "In principle" it should sink, but the weak force of gravity
and atmospheric turbulence keeps the ozone pretty much "stirred up" before it reacts with other gases
or is photochemically destroyed by the reverse photochemical reaction that produced it in the first place.

Vince Calder

Ozone is being generated in our upper atmosphere during Daylight Hours.
It depletes during the Night !

Reason for Large so called Ozone Hole over Antarctica (Appearing during the Winter) is because
of the lack of UV. (during the Winter period as Antarctica is in Darkness !)

If I were to measure the Distance between each Molecule of O³ it would be some hundred Meters !

Based on the Earths whole Atmosphere we are talking ONLY 0.6 parts per million.


In spite of the Myth Ozone is like a layer stopping UV is drastically misleading !

What happens is that Energy is given up during Ozone Production which in turn the level of UV
reaching the Earths Surface are reduced.

The amount of Ozone detected in our upper atmosphere is determined by 2 main factors...

1.      The Levels of UV from the Sun
and
2.      The Electrical Discharges taking place.

Yes certain gasses DO Affect the production of Ozone.... but we are talking about
extremely rarefied amounts of Ozone in the 1st Place ! (as in "Parts / Million" !)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone_layer

The ozone layer refers to a region of Earth's stratosphere that absorbs most of the Sun's UV radiation.
It contains high concentrations of ozone (O3) relative to other parts of the atmosphere,
although it is still very small relative to other gases in the stratosphere.

The ozone layer contains less than ten parts per million of ozone,
while the average ozone concentration in Earth's atmosphere as a whole is only about 0.6 parts per million.

The ozone layer is mainly found in the lower portion of the stratosphere, from approximately
20 to 30 kilometres (12 to 19 mi) above Earth, though the thickness varies seasonally and geographically.

The ozone layer was discovered in 1913 by the French physicists Charles Fabry and Henri Buisson.
Its properties were explored in detail by the British meteorologist G. M. B. Dobson, who developed
a simple spectrophotometer (the Dobsonmeter) that could be used to measure stratospheric ozone
from the ground.
Between 1928 and 1958 Dobson established a worldwide network of ozone monitoring stations,
which continue to operate to this day.

The "Dobson unit", a convenient measure of the amount of ozone overhead, is named in his honor.

The ozone layer absorbs 97–99% of the Sun's medium-frequency ultraviolet light
(from about 200 nm to 315 nm wavelength), which otherwise would potentially damage exposed life forms near the surface.

Such a statement is Debatable and Subjective !  There are 2 Schools of thought on this Subject
and I for one believe this whole area to be controlled Politically !   

Like in all fields there are Brilliant Scientists, Not so Brilliant Scientists and sadly some Corrupt Scientists.

And to top things off..... much of this is Politically Exploited !   

 

[PLAYSWITHMACHINES]

You are (of course) correct Matrix old freind

Yes certain gasses DO Affect the production of Ozone.... but we are talking about extremely rarefied amounts of Ozone in the 1st Place ! (as in "Parts / Million" !)

yes also, but those CFC's ARE catalysts, which means they can break up O3 without breaking up themselves.

Yes, O3 can oxidise lung tissue & is quite hazardous to humans.

"I love the smell of ozone in the mornings, when i fire up my Tesla coil"


At least i used to, now i avoid big sparks!

ETA: If the UV penetrates deeper, it will hit more O2 molecules, so there should be more ozone generated.
Only it will mean wearing 'factor 200' for a few years until it stabilises again

[The Matrix Traveller]

Ozone being produced in the Upper atmosphere is directly proportional to the amount of UV.

I remember in 1983, Sunspot activity was very High, with some Spots being extremely large.
High Levels of UV were detected and Ozone levels were higheer at that time.

We are comparing Levels of Ozone based on recent times at the Peak of UV output frim the sun.

Yes I am aware that studying Plants especially trees it is thought or interpreted that Ozone levels
can be read from the past. (Recorded in the trees makeup. But remember it is an interpretation
and a theory at best... 

There was some good UV photos obtained from Sky Lab in 1983 (The time of the alignment of all the Planers)
before it fell out of skies...

Some of those Photos of the Sun taken from Skylab.

[PLAYSWITHMACHINES]

Right as usual
Look at the size of those sunspots, i remember it played hell with the Schumann resonance & the shortwave.

One day i could talk to a trucker in America, the next day i couldn't get further than 40 miles...

Nothing to worry about then except watch out for the 'new' 'green' refrigerants, they are not as green as you may think

[zorgon]

WHY are ther holes in the Ozone layer over the poles?

Ozone being produced in the Upper atmosphere is directly proportional to the amount of UV.[

BINGO!!!

There are holes over the poles because there is very little direct UV hitting the poles Simple as that


Your right it IS political and a way to make money to initiate studies of the holes

Simple version...



I remember in 1983, Sunspot activity was very High, with some Spots being extremely large.
High Levels of UV were detected and Ozone levels were higheer at that time.

[Amaterasu]

Nice li'l chart there, z.  Too bad the creator didn't know the difference between "then" and "than."  Still, it gives a good pic of what Our planet does to keep clean.