How does atmospheric pollution and ozone depletion affect global warming?

Question

detailed answers please!

Answer 1

In short: Certain pollutants, the greenhouse gases, cause global warming, the more of them there are in the atmosphere the warmer the planet becomes. Ozone delpetion has very little direct effect on global warming although there are links between the two.

Let me explain in a little more detail...

Pollution is effectively any form of contaminant and our atmosphere contains hundreds of such things. Only some of them contribute to global warming, some contribute to cooling and most have little or no effect either way. In terms of the contaminants that affect global warming it's restricted to the Greenhouse Gases.

The most prevelant greenhouse gas is water vapour, virtually all of which is naturally occuring and isn't a pollutant. The three next most important greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. These occur naturally but they're also produced by human activities, the human component could be classed as pollution. There are a whole load of other gases that contribute to global warming and the majority of them are synthetic. You'll have heard of CFC's (chlorofluorocarbons), these are one such group of largely synthetic gases, there are similar groups as well such as HFC's and HCFC's.

The planet has always had it's natural greenhouse gases and these ensure the temperature is moderated. Without them, Earth would be much colder than it is and life would never have evolved. In the last couple of hundred years humans have dramatically increased the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmopshere and this has lead to an increased level of warming.

Here's how it works: The heat we receive from the Sun reaches us in the form of solar radiation, it passes easily through our atmosphere. This heat is absorbed by all manner of surfaces, everything basically that isn't reflective. When temperatures drop this retained heat is radiated back outwards in the form of thermal radiation, this has a longer wavelength than solar radiation and it has greater difficulty escaping through our atmosphere. It's basically the greenhouse gases that get in it's way and prevent it escaping back into space. Consequently the more greenhouse gases there are the more thermal radiation is absorbed and the warmer the planet becomes.

Ozone depeltion is something very different. Ozone is a form of oxygen and is produced naturally. It forms a layer high in the atmosphere and has similar properties to the greenhouse gases. One of the most important roles it plays as far as we're concerned is that it filters out some of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet rays which can cause sunburn and skin cancers.

Ozone is destroyed by certain gases - the CFC's, HFC's and HCFC's mentioned earlier. The use of these gases has now been banned for about 20 years and as a result the 'hole' in the ozone layer is now begining to repair itself.

It's not that ozone depletion causes or contributes to global warming per se, the link between the two is more down to the fact that the gases that deplete the ozone layer also cause global warming. In fact, these are the worst gases as far as global warming is concerned as they're much more effective at retaining heat than the common greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide.

I hope that makes sens but you can always add more details or email me if anything needs clarifying or you're like further details.

Answer 2

I think Ozone depletion actually prevent global warming. The funny thing is industrial pollution is preventing the northern Hemisphere from experiencing the problem of the southern Hemesphere of Ozone depletion. SOme polution increase it while others diminish. The average would increase it. Soot, the black stuff from burning coal is responsible for global warming during the turn of the century. Black crud fall on the artic ice and preven light from reflecting back into space. Instead it absorb the light and made the atmosphere hotter.

Answer 3

The theory is that the ozone layer way up in the atmosphere provides a sort of shield that protects the earth's surface from the full force of the sun's radiation. Therefore, less ozone could equate to more radiation (heat is a form of radiant energy). There is a theory linking ozone depletion to increased skin cancer rates. I have heard more about the possible (or likely if you prefer) effects on carbon-based pollutants in the atmosphere. The belief here is that atmospheric pollution keeps heat IN the atmosphere near the earth's surface, rather than letting it diffuse back out into space, and so creates a cumulative warming effect.

Answer 4

The pollution destroys the ozone and the ozone is what protects us from harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. Therefore if our ozone is damaged, those rays get through and its hotter. Also, greenhouse gases build up in the atmosphere and trap heat in the earth like a greenhouse. Hence greenhouse effect.
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Answer 5

Maybe, but asking questions on Yahoo! Answers by using your 500+ watt PC most definitely contributes to Global Warming.

Answer 6

Well I know that pollution traps heat on Earth, thereby raising the global temperature and resulting in things like less rain, melting of polar ice caps, droughts, lack of water as a plentiful resource.

Answer 7

it doesn't. only the sun can effect global warming.