Rowland explained that while distant interrelations do exist between global warming and ozone depletion, the two phenomena occur independently of each other. That s understandable, considering Rowland s pissant credentials. He earned his doctorate in chemistry from the University of Chicago in the late 1940s, having studied under such legendary physicists as Edward Teller and Enrico Fermi. His mentor was Dr. William Libby, who eventually won his own Nobel Prize for chemistry in 1960 for his development of the carbon 14 dating technique. As such, he is uniquely qualified to give governor Whitman a much-needed lesson in atmospheric science.
Ozone depletion allows more ultraviolet radiation, which causes skin cancer.
It is all very well understood. Simply put, the ozone layer is a natural shield protecting surface animal life from the sun s harmful ultraviolet radiation, which can cause skin cancer. The work by Rowland and his colleagues that earned them the Nobel Prize showed that CFCs, emitted for decades by air conditioners, refrigerators and aerosol cans, destroy stratospheric ozone. Indeed, global agreements such as the 1987 Montreal Protocol have cut CFC emissions throughout Europe, Japan, Russia and the United States. But these gains have been partially offset by increased CFC emissions throughout Asia, particularly China.