Accord on the deepening problem of ozone depletion

Journal Article · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 UTC 1987 · Environment; (United States)

OSTI ID:7145133

In September representatives of 24 or 46 negotiating nations signed a treaty designed to freeze and eventually cut the world's consumption of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), a class of chemicals implicated in the depletion of the ozone layer. The treaty also calls for a freeze on halons, a class of similar ozone-depleting chemicals used primarily in fire extinguishers. Yet, even under the scenario prescribed by the treaty, a 2% loss of ozone by the mid-21st century is still forecast. At the same time as the treaty signing, scientists organized by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration were flying airplanes into the upper reaches of the ozone layer over Antarctica. They found the ozone hole, which appears each spring, this year to be the largest yet - reflecting a 55% decrease in ozone concentration from 1979. High levels of chlorine were recorded along with low levels of ozone. The scientists also found that ozone levels could drop dramatically in the course of one day, indicating that the meteorological dynamics of the South Pole could be contributing to the loss caused by the chlorine. In the US there are signs of a movement to eliminate the use of CFCs in manufacturing the plastic foams that hold fast-food hamburgers.

• OSTI ID: 7145133
• Journal Information: Environment; (United States), Journal Name: Environment; (United States) Vol. 29:8; ISSN ENVTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
500600 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Regulations-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
ANTARCTIC REGIONS
ANTARCTICA
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FREONS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
METEOROLOGY
MONITORING
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OZONE
POLAR REGIONS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
POLLUTION REGULATIONS
REGULATIONS
TREATIES