Ozone Depletion & Climate Change

Ozone Hole South Pole and now north pole Thinning on its edges In Canada – 45% thinned Causes Polar Stratospheric Clouds that hold onto CFCs Destroys and thins the Ozone layer

Effects of Ozone Hole More UV reaching earth Kills phytoplankton, destroys DNA, increased cancer, weakened immune response, death of eggs for reptiles and amphibians, reduced crop yields

Greenhouse Effect Atmospheric acts like glass in a greenhouse Sunlight heats the earth Heat radiates up, some escapes, but most is kept in the troposphere by greenhouse gases Water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane are the big three

Greenhouse Gases & Earth’s Temperature More Carbon dioxide due to burning of coal, oil and wood products Allows atmosphere to absorb more heat Is global warming certain? Will an increase in greenhouse gases effect climate?

Consequences Melting Ice & Rising Sea Levels Hurricanes & Typhoons stronger & more frequent Decreased Biodiversity Human Health Problems

So is it… Global warming that we are worried about or the consequences that we are seeing? The rest of the world calls this Global Climate Change, not Global Warming. Global warming is natural and necessary, it is when it goes to far and effect the climate that we start to worry.