Re: [Fwd: Fwd: gas out]

Michael S. Lorrey (mike@lorrey.com)
Mon, 26 Apr 1999 08:22:36 -0400

Gina Miller wrote:
>
> Don't fuel emissions deplete the ozone layer therefore contributing
> to the global warming effect?

The ozone layer is fine for most of the planet. The ozone 'hole' is a phenomenon which centers around the south pole and forms in winter there, when atmospheric temperatures are low enough that ozone becomes unstable enough for chlorine ions to do their dirty work. The chlorine ions come from several sources, but the exaggeration in the ozone hole is supposedly the result of increased use of chloro-fluoro-carbons as refrigerants and fillers for aerosol sprays. Supposedly our emission levels of these are now low enough that the ozone hole should go away by itself in 5-10 years.

The green house effect is a completely different phenomenon, reliant on things like methane gas, carbon dioxide, water, sulphur and nitrogen pollution, as well as dust particulates of various kinds. Its a very complex system which has yet to be modeled well enough to come to a difinitive conclusion as to the cause of, or even if world temperatures are actually rising. Most weather stations where temps have been taken are in urban areas that have seen an increase in temperature locally due to the urban environment development.

Mike Lorrey