A letter writer on Tuesday (Record-Bee, June 26) stated that global warming causes ozone depletion. While I am concerned about both and the health of our environment and future, this is simply not true.
According to the Union of Concerned Scientists “Global warming and ozone depletion are two separate but related threats. Global warming and the greenhouse effect refer to the warming of the lower part of the atmosphere (also known as the troposphere) due to increasing concentrations of heat-trapping gases. By contrast, the ozone hole refers to the loss of ozone in the upper part of the atmosphere, called the stratosphere.
This is of serious concern because stratospheric ozone blocks incoming ultraviolet radiation from the sun, some of which is harmful to plants, animals, and humans.” Ozone depletion is caused primarily by the release into the atmosphere of CFC”s or chlorofluorocarbons, mainly a component of aeresols and refrigerants. For more than 10 years, CFC”s have largely been banned (in the US and most western countries) and replaced by non-ozone damagings substitutes.
According to the report cited, “Currently, these gases are responsible for less than 10 percent of total atmospheric warming, far less than the contribution from the main greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide.” Carbon dioxide and CFC”s are not the same, and have different impacts on the atmosphere at large.
One does not further their position or argument when their facts are wrong, or contained unspported conclusions. Yes, both ozone depletion (which has slowed dramatically, and even rebounded in certain areas) and greenhouse gas related global warming are serious issues, it helps to understand, at least minimally, the science involved.
Look not, as the writer on Tuesday suggested, to the Book of Revelations, but to a good science text to see what has happened, and what can be done to correct it. Even global warming can be reversed if 1) governments acknowledge it as real and a threat to our future and 2) are willing to make the tough choices to reverse the trend. These include alternative fuels and energy sources, higher mileage (Dare I say electric?) vehicles, solar and energy-efficient homes and weaning us off of coal-fired energy production, which accounts for more greenhouse gases than any other source but automobiles.
Doug Rhoades
Kelseyville
