From: bynum@miavx1.acs.muohio.edu (Frank Bynum)
Subject: Stratospheric O3, Human Factors
Followup-To: sci.environment
Summary: review concepts, O3 & CO2 atm trace gases, rsh area
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Keywords: research problem, O3, CO2, models, data, implications
Reply-To: bynum@miavx1.acs.muohio.edu (Frank Bynum)
Organization: Miami University Academic Computer Service"
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1992 18:38:50 GMT

  From: Frank Bynum <bynum@miavx1.acs.muohio.edu> 
  to: UseNet News readers; sci.energy, sci.environment, sci.physics, 
alt.activism, misc.activism.progressive 
  dt; w5Aug.'92 
  Reply To: sci.environment or e-mail to . . . @miavx1 . . . 
  Subject: Stratospheric O3, Human Factors 

         Trace gas concentration changes can be particularly important 
in determining EM radiative transport through our atmosphere.  It works 
at the level of spectral distribution of transmission and absorption of 
solar input and thermal re-radiation.  
         Some years ago a major belief was that abilities of humans to 
cause global changes would for the most part have to do with the total 
level at which we used/ dissipated energy, total rate of moving around 
mass, total surface area altered by us as a fraction of global surface 
area.  
         A new concept emerged.  It became plausible to suggest that, 
through trace gas shifts, an exceptionally more potent leverage point 
could exist for global scale environment alterations.  Human 
agricultural/ urban/ industrial activities might thereby come to rival 
previously existing natural processes in importance.  
         NO and Cl, photochemically released from various compounds, 
undergo reactions which deplete O3 at stratospheric altitudes.  In 
further steps, NO and Cl can be regenerated, able to catalase more O3 
removal.  Factors of ~ 1E4 for moles O3 removed per mole of Cl supplied 
(from sources including HCl and Freon) have been reported in the 
technical literature about atmospheric chemistry of ozone.  (_Current 
State of Knowledge of the Upper Atmosphere_, in various editions 
released every few years since 1989, is a NASA publication with coverage 
of recent studies.)  
         Hence, atmospheric transparency to solar UVB light may be 
increasing.  If so, the health of biological systems in general at 
ground level could be degraded as a consequence.  
         The majority science opinion now is that the suggestion of risk 
merits cutback of CFC manufacturing and release from spray-can and 
refrigerant products.  Such seems to be prudent caution, prior to 
establishment of certainty of the hypothesis or its disprovel.  
         It is important to be able to determine what is the state of 
affairs closest to what we actually face.  One end of spectrum 
represents the finding of a critical situation needing large 
countermeasures rapidly.  The other end of spectrum represents the 
finding of no significant problem despite earlier appropriate alarms.  
The actual situation could be anywhere in between.  
         The task at hand is to conduct those multi-disciplinary 
physical (and biological) sciences studies as required to improve 
understanding of the factors involved.  And in the process, one should 
be searching to identify, and then evaluate, schemes through which 
Intentional human actions might abate the previously noticed possible 
threat, if shown to actually exist.  Those schemes must be consistent 
with our desires to: 
  #a. continue reaping of benefits from the ongoing function of our 
daily economic system activities; 
  #b. extend, via initial economic development, those benefits to the 
groups of people currently lacking them (such as rural India, 
deindustrialized metropolitan Detroit).  

{ Frank Bynum (Power Beam Spacer)   h nu + A* --> A + 2 h nu      \ | /
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"No grimmer fate can be imagined than that of humans, possessed of god 
like powers, confined to one single fragile world."-- Kraft Ericke 
         This is file sto3huf.txt Strat. O3 & HUman Factors