Atmospheric Chemistry: Ozone Reactions:
Physics and Chemistry of the Stratosphere

2. What proof do we have that CFC's are the reason that we have stratospheric ozone depletion?

3. Why is stratospheric ozone depletion primarily a problem at the South Pole and of lesser problem over the North Pole?

4. Why is the North Polar region likely to experience less depletion than the South Pole but of more than mid-latitudes?

5. Discuss the reasons the following statement is valid or invalid: "CFCs are not reactive and so do not contribute to stratospheric ozone depletion".

6. The April 1998 issue of Science stated that global warming might lead to an increase in skin cancer. The reasoning is that surface warming leads to cooling of the lower stratosphere (which global climate models predict and observations show is actually happening). Explain why a cooler stratosphere will indirectly lead to more skin cancer.

7. Human Health Effects of UV Radiation

• UV-C has higher energy and therefore is more damaging to biological tissue than UV-B. Then why are we concerned about UV-B rather than UV-C radiation?
• Discuss the parts of the human eye that might be adversly affected by UV radiation.