Ozone Depletion and Global Warming
Citation
Export citationFow, A. J. (2006). Ozone Depletion and Global Warming (Thesis). The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10289/2311
Permanent Research Commons link: https://hdl.handle.net/10289/2311
Abstract
AbstractThis thesis examines global warming and the possible contribution that ozonedepletion provides to this warming. An examination is performed to determinethe extent of any warming/cooling events within the Earth-atmospheresystem. The change in energy corresponding to this warning of the Earth-atmosphere system is estimated as being equivilent to an increase of meansolar input of 0.22W/m2. This is compared to the predicted changes of solarinput for the two most common global warming scenarios: greenhouse gasesand solar irradiance variance; and for a less well explored scenario, snow-icealbedo change. Examination of ozone depletion data shows that an absence ofozone in the stratosphere produces an increase in UV-B radiation at the surfaceof the Earth. This increase in UV-B light has not previously been thourouglyexamined in any of the global warming scenarios. This is presented as a fourthscenario for global warming.An analytical three layer model of the Earth-atmosphere, based on an earliertwo layer model, is developed. Using this model it is determined thatgreenhouse gases, solar irradiance, snow-ice albedo feedback and ozone depletioncan cause warming of the Earth's atmosphere. After comparison withother models, a snow-ice albedo mechanism is incorporated into the three layermodel. This produces an amplification effect of any warming that occurs.Compared to the observed increase of surface temperature between 1975-2000of 0.55 K, the model using a snow-ice albedo feedback, produced an increaseof temperature of 1.4 K for greenhouse gases, 0.294 K for a solar irradiance increaseand 0.119 K caused by a decrease in the ozone layer. Of the greenhousegas, solar irradiance and ozone depletion scenarios, ozone depletion demonstratesthe most realistic relative changes with a cooling of the stratosphereand a warming of the troposphere and Earth's surface as has been observed.It is concluded that ozone depletion is likely for a reasonable part of observedglobal warming.
Date
2006Type
Degree Name
Publisher
The University of Waikato
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