If there are holes in the ozone, why can't we just make more and "patch" them?

Answer 1

First of all, the ozone layer is not a thin layer (as the surface of some object) but a thick area where there is a lot more ozone than in other lattitudes of the atmosphere, and it is well mixed with other gases. A hole in it is not a place in it where there is no ozone (O3) but a place where there is less than normal O3. Such holes occur normally, periodically, so some people believe that the ozone holes that we have nowadays are normal - but they are not. The difference between the naturally created ozone holes of the past and our ozone holes is that these are created by halogenes and other material what we produce in such forms that it can get up there. They get there mostly as halomethanes (one carbon atom in the center between 4 other atoms: at least one or all four halogene and hydrogen to have a total of 4 atoms). These molecules were never naturally created. We use them in the industry (like plasma etching of silicon) and let them simply out to the atmosphere.
Free electrons in the atmosphere hit these molecules, stick to them and break the bound between some of the atoms, so free halogenes fly around there. They can break up other way too. Now, here comes the most important part of the story. First the short form of the reaction, then the explanation:
first step: Cl + O3 ---------> OCl + O2
second step: OCl + O3 ---------> Cl + O2 + O2
One chlorine first breaks an ozone molecule up to a normal oxigene molecule by forming a molecule with one of the ozone's 3 oxigene atoms. Then this new molecule attacks another ozone molecule, beaks it up as in the first step and releases another oxigene molecule. In two steps, you get 3 oxigene molecules from 2 ozone molecules.
AND THE CYCLE BEGINS AGAIN WITH THE FIRST STEP.
One singe free Cl atom breaks up several 10000 O3 molecules until it is bound in some stable form. And the halomethanes, which get it up there, are very effective greenhouse gases, too.
And you can't just go up and tell these molecules "Hey YOU, come here!" and collect them. They only come down in a huge time at the polar regions frozen in little crystals of them and some find the way back up.
With todays technique, I believe, we could get up there and spread more O3. But first of all, do you really think that you would find at least one of the guys who cause these pollutions and make him give you cash to finance the project? You cannot imagine what would it cost. And I believe you can guess if they would care to give out that cash for it.
The other issue with this "patching" is that it is far more difficult and far less effective than not to let the gases out in the first place.
So, the only effective way to protect the ozone layer is to not let these molecules out, but for that, we need to gain *complete* control of our industry. The whole world is ONE system. You cannot resolve a problem without finding and solving the cause of it. And the cause of the natural catastrophes is our way of thinking that we can afford any insults against the nature. And that's another story.
I'll be glad to give you the answers to that one, too.

Answer 2

Mother nature does that automatically except at the poles . The ozone layer or Van Allen belt have an automatic patch built in. If the layer got a little thin there would more alfa particles come through what would happen. Nitrogen when radiated with alfa particles will trans mutate to oxygen and the electrical charge across will change the O to O3.

Answer 3

Because the ozone is at high altitude, how are you going to get it there?
The ozone is spread out over a large area, how are you going to spread it all over there?
The ozone is pretty dilluted, how are you going to mix it all over there?
Ozone forms naturally from the action of UV radiation coming from the sun, the layer will heal itself provided that we do not dump ozone destroying compounds in the atmosphere that take ozone away faster than it can reproduce.

Answer 4

The 'holes' are a cyclic, recurrent phenomenon. Plenty of O3 is made naturally by lightning strokes (cloud to cloud is most effective), sprites, jets, and solar wind.
The Ozone hole 'problem' is just another scare tactic from the 'afraid of everything' group.

Answer 5

You can't make more ozone. Also, the hole in the ozone isn't as big as previously thought.

Answer 6

Because the holes are caused by pollution, like Freon escaping from old leaky air conditioners, destroying the natural ozone. It would also destroy any artificial ozone we put there, so we have to remove the pollution instead.

Answer 7

Your are not serious right? it can't be patched. The ozone is made up of gases

Answer 8

i didn't get your question,shall we make more ozones? or shall we make more holes?

Answer 9

Martha Washington is working on that very thing as we speak. Sewing her little fingers off!