Ozone Layer Depletion and Natural Resources.
OZONE-LAYER DEPLETION AND NATURAL RESOURCES
INTRODUCTION
Sometime ago, a warning endorsed by more than 1,600 of the world’s most distinguished scientists, including 102 Nobel Prize winner states in part:
Human being and the natural world are on collision course. Human activities inflict harsh and often irreversible damaged on the environment and critical resources. If not checked, many of our current practices put as serious risk the future that we wish for human society and the plant and animal kingdoms, and may so alter the living world that it will be unable to sustain life in the manner we know. Fundamental changes are urgent if we are to avoid the collision our present course will bring about.
Two of the potentially disastrous phenomena are global warming and ozone layer depletion. In a national study conducted in 1995, it was found that less than 5% of Nigerians surveyed know the causes and consequences of global warming and ozone layer depletion. The intent of this series is to enhance public understanding of the two phenomena with a view to mobilising local and national action in taking corrective actions.
The presentation begins with a look at the atmosphere, since is where the action is in discussions on global warming and ozone layer depletion and anchors with suggestions for local, national and global action.
THE ATMOSPHERE
The Earth and other planets of the solar system are each enclosed in a thin shell of gas called the atmosphere. If the Earth is compared to an orange, the atmosphere can be considered the skin of the orange.
Layers of the atmosphere
Scientists have developed three different classification systems for the atmosphere on the basis of (a) Varying temperature, (b) varying electrical characteristics, and (c) varying composition.
Temperature
On the basis of temperature, scientists distinguish five layers. The troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, exosphere, thermosphere.
Electrical Properties
INTRODUCTION
Sometime ago, a warning endorsed by more than 1,600 of the world’s most distinguished scientists, including 102 Nobel Prize winner states in part:
Human being and the natural world are on collision course. Human activities inflict harsh and often irreversible damaged on the environment and critical resources. If not checked, many of our current practices put as serious risk the future that we wish for human society and the plant and animal kingdoms, and may so alter the living world that it will be unable to sustain life in the manner we know. Fundamental changes are urgent if we are to avoid the collision our present course will bring about.
Two of the potentially disastrous phenomena are global warming and ozone layer depletion. In a national study conducted in 1995, it was found that less than 5% of Nigerians surveyed know the causes and consequences of global warming and ozone layer depletion. The intent of this series is to enhance public understanding of the two phenomena with a view to mobilising local and national action in taking corrective actions.
The presentation begins with a look at the atmosphere, since is where the action is in discussions on global warming and ozone layer depletion and anchors with suggestions for local, national and global action.
THE ATMOSPHERE
The Earth and other planets of the solar system are each enclosed in a thin shell of gas called the atmosphere. If the Earth is compared to an orange, the atmosphere can be considered the skin of the orange.
Layers of the atmosphere
Scientists have developed three different classification systems for the atmosphere on the basis of (a) Varying temperature, (b) varying electrical characteristics, and (c) varying composition.
Temperature
On the basis of temperature, scientists distinguish five layers. The troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, exosphere, thermosphere.
Electrical Properties
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