When we think about greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, we may consider what our impact has on the US as a whole. But, who considers how much greater this situation is on a global level? The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) does. They are an international treaty that creates various programs with the aim of reducing the carbon footprint of countries around the world.
What does your old air conditioner, freezer, refrigerator and older car all have in common? They all contain a chemical compound called chlorofluorocarbons or CFC’s, a substance that adversely reacts with the ozone layer in the atmosphere. This substance is so harmful that special equipment and strict regulations were designed to protect the population of the entire planet.
The sun may be an important energy resource but there are some aspects about it, like ultraviolet rays, that can be downright damaging to living things, including human beings. Luckily, the ozone layer is providing the earth with a blanket of protection from these harmful rays. However, due to the activities of the human race, instead of having a thick blanket of protection, we now have a depleting ozone.
Can you imagine wearing a gas mask as you walk the down the street trying to protect yourself from the increased air pollution? Although this is not a reasonable nor necessary measure to take, microscopic pollution is a real threat, one we should at least be aware of. Particulate matter (PM) is particle pollution in the air consisting of a mixture of extremely small solid and liquid particles, as defined by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Nitrate and sulfate acids, metal particles, organic chemicals, dirt and dust are among the various types of particle pollution.
In 1908, an amazing invention was created in the United States: the Ford Model T. With the development of such a useful and convenient product it was no surprise that demand soared. By 1914, the Ford company had invented the assembly line to increase production and meet demand. Nearly 40 years later, the US Environmental Protection Agency became aware that our clean air needed protection.
What is ozone? Well the answer depends on which ozone you are referring to. High altitude ozone is the good ozone protecting us from the damaging rays of the sun. Low level or ground level ozone is the bad ozone with direct effects on our health as well as indirect effects on the ozone layer. Here’s why…
Climate change happens when certain elements in the atmosphere allow sunlight to pass freely, yet trap the light that is reflected back. Light enters the earth freely, but instead of leaving the atmosphere after reflecting off the ground, it gets trapped and the earth just keeps on getting warmer and warmer.
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