MadSci Network: Environment/Ecology |
How does Freon 12 travel to the ozone layer. From what I have read I understand the breakdown of the ozone layer to be caused by the chlorine ions that are freed when sunlight of sufficient energy breaks the bond between the rest of the freon molecule and the chlorine atom. The chlorine ion then reacts in some manner to destroy many more ozone molecules. My questions are these 1) The density of Freon is much higher than air, so how does the freon rise to sufficient height for the air to thin enough for the unfiltered high energy radiation from the Sun to break its bonds (Freon is a very stable compound, which means it takes a high energy photon to break it, which means it must be high enough for the air not to filter out the high energy light) 2) If you can think of a way the Freon reaches the proper altitude to be split, how do you get it up there in sufficient quantities to do the damage we attribute to it. 3)What is the Per cent of Ozone destroying chlorine from Freon compared to other sources such as VOLCANOES, or SODIUM CHLORIDE from the ocean {the Navy has some interesting research on how high salt water reaches before hurricanes and waterspouts} and where can we find evidence to support the answers.
Re:How does Freon 12 travel to the ozone layer.
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