CFCs and Ozone Layer Protection

In the 1980s, a growing hole in the ozone layer posed a global threat. The ozone layer protects Earth from harmful UV radiation, but chemicals called CFCs were depleting it. Discovered by chemists Molina and Rowland, CFCs released chlorine atoms that destroyed ozone molecules. Despite initial resistance from CFC producers, the Montreal Protocol was signed in 1987 to phase out CFCs, leading to a shrinking ozone hole. However, the replacement chemicals, HFCs, also contribute to climate change. The Kigali Amendment aims to reduce HFCs, highlighting the need for global cooperation to combat environmental issues.

What percentage of the Sun's UV radiation is absorbed by ozone molecules in the stratosphere?

• 50%

• 75%

• 98%

• 100%

Who were the chemists that discovered the harmful effects of CFCs on the ozone layer?

• Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr

• Mario Molina and Sherwood Rowland

• Isaac Newton and Galileo Galilei

• Marie Curie and Louis Pasteur

What was the initial reaction of CFC producers to the findings of Molina and Rowland?

• They immediately stopped production

• They supported the findings

• They ignored the findings

• They tried to discredit the scientists

What was the main cause of the rapid ozone depletion observed over Antarctica?

• Volcanic eruptions

• Increased solar activity

• Deforestation

• Unique Antarctic clouds and cold temperatures

Which two world leaders were instrumental in the fight to ban CFCs?

• Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping

• Barack Obama and Angela Merkel

• John F. Kennedy and Winston Churchill

• Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher

What was the purpose of the Montreal Protocol signed in 1987?

• To promote the use of CFCs

• To increase CFC production

• To phase out CFCs and protect the ozone layer

• To ban all chemical production

What is the predicted year for the complete disappearance of the ozone hole?

• 2070

• 2100

• 2050

• 2025

What are the alternatives to CFCs that also pose a threat to the climate?

• Methane

• Nitrous oxide

• Carbon dioxide

• Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)

What was the goal of the Kigali Amendment added to the Montreal Protocol?

• To increase HFC production

• To cut global HFCs by 85% by 2047

• To ban all greenhouse gases

• To promote the use of HFCs

What does the Montreal Protocol exemplify in the context of climate change?

• The failure of international treaties

• The importance of individual action

• The success of global cooperation

• The irrelevance of climate agreements