what specific kinds of pollution/things are causing the ozone layer to get thinner?
357294
The Earth is surrounded by atmosphere, which is made up of many greenhouse gases. The Earths temperature\n      depends on the solar constant.\n      The Earths surface absorbs heat from the sun and re-radiates it back out to space with the help of clouds, snow,\n      atmosphere dust and sea surfaces, the rest is absorbed by other gases and aerosols, examples of these is the\n      gases from power stations and volcanoes which can be liquid or dust, some solar radiation does not reach\n      space this remains trapped in the atmosphere by greenhouse gases. \n      The temperature of the Earth has changed and is continuing to do so with the help of human activity in rising \n      Co2 levels, from 1850-1996 Co2 rose from 285 p.p.m to 360 p.p.m a 0.7ºc rise in surface temperature.\n      We know how trees and plants are vital to us as they convert Co2 into oxygen to help us breathe, but industry\n      will continue to cut and burn down forests allowing more Co2 into the air, with this decrease in vegetation this\n      means more Co2 will remain in the atmosphere and with the burning of fossil fuels we are also producing more \n      Co2, causing the Earths temperature to warm up.\n      Clouds also play a role in the surface temperature; they absorb radiation this increasing the amount of infrared\n      radiation that is emitted by the atmosphere depending on their altitude and thickness, a cloud is formed when\n      water vapor condenses.
409301
because everyone is littering more and creating more pollution in the air which affects our ozone layer which affects our weather
1138971
Environmental groups have recently voiced concern that exhaust from the space shuttle and other rockets could harm the protective ozone layer. But measurements taken by satellites after shuttle launches do not show any sign of stratospheric ozone destruction, atmospheric scientists report.\n\nSolid-propellant motors used to loft some rockets pose a potential threat to the ozone layer because their exhaust contains chlorine, which in some forms can destroy ozone. Indeed, a scientific flight through a rocket's exahust plume in the 1970s detected a 40 percent decrease in ozone levels in the plume, reports Steven Aftergood of the Washington, D.C.-based American Federation of Scientists in the Sept. 20 JOURNAL Of GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH. Aftergood suggests that launches may produce local ozone "holes" that persist for several hours.\n\nIn the same journal, Richard McPeters of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., and his colleagues respond to Aftergood's comments by examining satellite measurements of ozone in the shuttle launch area. They find no detectable ozone decrease after several launches.
1024045
It is believed that one of the causes of ozone depletion is due to the presence of CFC (Chloro-Fluoro Carbons) in the stratosphere. A common source of this used to be Freon - a coolant used in refridgeration / air-conditioning which has a relatively large lifespan once introduced into the atmosphere.\n\nThe ozone layer is responsible for absorbing some harmful UV rays (ultra-violet)  and their absence can lead to increase in skin ailments for humans such as skin cancer (especially in Australia ).\n\nI don't think it is related to melting of the ice-cap, warming temperatures - where another atmospheric gas -carbon dioxide is more directly involved.
1103330
My thought is air as well. Air is composed of around 2/3s part of Nitrogen. Oxygen is a much smaller amount
192873
Dont listen to teh idiot above, how could cutting down trees help improve the ozone layer???\n\nThe answer is A because trees convert CO2 to O2, the more trees you cut down the less trees you have to make 02 from CO2 so there will be an increase in CO2
453537
There are in fact many different atmospheric layers as you move upward away from the earth. However, there are NOT different layers of gases. All the gases are sort of mixed.\n\nThe troposphere, the atmospheric layer that we live in, contains the most gases. This is due to gravity. Anything that has mass will be attracted to earth's gravity.\n\nThat is why when you move away from the earth there is less air. Less gravity = less air!\n\nThe higher you go in the troposphere, the colder it gets. That is also due to less air (holds heat).\n\nThe next layer up is the stratosphere. This layer is where most jets fly & where the atmospheric ozone layer exists.\n\nTemperatures in the stratosphere will get warmer due to the ozone layer. Ozone is an insulator & traps heat.\n\nAs you move higher, you will reach the mesosphere. And, as you may have already guessed, this layer contains even less air. It also gets pretty darn cold as you move away from the ozone layer. "Shooting stars" occur in this layer. Meteorites burn up as they enter our atmosphere.\n\nThe last layer is called the thermosphere. It has the least amount of air. But the odd thing is that this is the hottest layer!!!\n\nSounds strange??? Well here is why...\n\nAlthough there is less air to hold heat, there is still some present. Mind you, it is few & far between. Imagine being in the Astrodome & someone across the field threw a BB at you! That is how sparse the air particles are.\n\nHowever, we have said there is air! That air that is present is constantly bombarded with nasty cosmic rays! By this time, here is so much energy in the air particles that the temperature is astronomical (no pun intended).\n\nBecause of this, the thermosphere is often called the "heat sphere", just as it's name implies.\n\nSatellites are put into orbit in the thermosphere.\n\nTo get directly to your question... there are different layers because scientists decided to name them according to temperature changes.
67966
Ozone is produced by sunlight. There is less light at the poles (due to the earth's tilt), therefore there are holes there. Very little to do with man made gasses at all. Just one more "theory" with little or no basis in truth.
560127
Carbon monoxide (CO) from cars, buses, forest fires...\nSulphur dioxide (SO2) from factories\nCarbon particles (C) from forest fires, burning of rubbish...\nVolcanic ash blown by the winds throughout the volcanic region
336779
Carbon monoxide \nLead \nNitrogen dioxide \nOzone \nSulfur dioxide\nand also particles (eg dust).
505387
Ozone (O3) reflects/scatters ultraviolet radiation back into space.  However, if it is depeleted, this radiation makes it past the atmosphere and down to the surface.  The amount of shorter wavelength (higher energy) radiation passing through the atmosphere would increase, causing higher mortality rates from skin related ailments and can also destroy plant tissue.  Also, this radiation would heat the earth more since it carries more energy with it.  This is not usually a problem, since this thermal radiation currently passes back into space.  However, with pollution clouds/dust being more prominent, it would reflect the thermal radiation back down to earth's surface, driving the temperature up even more.
262700
Global warming,green house effects,thinning layer of the ozone
237061
Hey! I resent that answer above! It's something you should be concerned about, basically all the fumes people are emitting into the atmosphere (from factories, cars, etc.) are getting trapped in our atmosphere and heating the entire planet! This really shifts the balance of everything, there are many animals that can't live in the new heat they're not used to! If this keeps up, the earth will be smeltering!
1057033
It probably has to do with a mix of light pollution and regular pollution
205468
Pollution of the air from factories causing the formation of sulfuric or nitric acids. It gets in the atmosphere and it comes down as rain. this was a big problem in Europe in the 1960's, esp. in east europe in 1968
862529
Ozone layer had undergone massive depletion due to natural and man-made causes. It had areas greatly decreased that made it to the point that there is already a "hole" or there is a certain area that no longer contain the ozone layer.\n\nThere are various factors  influencing  the ozone concentrations: >>Stratospheric sulfate aerosols mainly from  large explosive volcanoes greatly affect the ozone layers.\n>>Stratospheric winds  which bring about changes of the tropical winds in the lower stratosphere move ozone from one area to another.\n>>Greenhouse gases which might heat the planet and alter weather patterns affecting  the magnitude of the stratospheric winds.\n>>Sunspot cycle which is largely affected by unusual solar activity, solar storms and large solar flares which highly affect the ozone creation by solar UV radiation.\n>>Stratospheric chlorine, coming mostly from man-made halocarbons.\n\nWith all factors affecting the ozone creation, and movements and all that supports its depletion, ozone layer had lowered its  amount or its concentration which can cause the risk of harmful ultraviolet exposures. In simple term, the ozone layer had undergone thinning of its layer which some area already resulted to have holes. Anything that had thinned severely can breakdown anytime - that also applies to the ozone layer.♥
1121106
The depletion of the ozone layer is what allows for UV rays to penetrate the earth's surface... and it's increased sunburns and skin disease in recent years.  The ozone layer is NOT what is causing global warming.  That would be increased carbon dioxide emissions.  Get that straight, people.\n\nActually... now that the industry taking measure to reduce CFC emission, the ozone is actually beginning to repair itself (and will be fully healed sometime around 2050).  It will not rampently destroy life, but it'll give you a good sunburn (and skin cancer, if you're overexposed).