WC> I thought it was because it drifted into the ozone layer where it
WC> worked as a catalyst to break down the protective ozone layer.

RJT> I understand that this is the rationale that's been given in some
RJT> cases,  but it makes no sense to me why the "ozone hole" that was
RJT> reported should only show up over the south pole.

 The "ozone hole" can only be produced when the
temp is below -80øC. This first step is necessary
to "prepare" the CFC's to change into clorine.

 This is also why the "holes" are only present
during certain months of the year.

WC> It doesn't, it's showing up over both poles southern and northern.

RJT> Nor is it conclusive
RJT> that flourocarbons were the cause of it,  and that it didn't to some
RJT> degree occur naturally.  The first reports of that were grabbed by th
RJT> eco-freaks and used as a rationale,  but the study of that stuff
RJT> isn't over yet.

 It's pretty conclusive that CFC's are the most
likely cause. It's the effects that are still
inconclusive.

WC> Ten years after we stop using it entirely it will still be destroying
WC> the ozone layer because one it takes time to migrate up there and as the
WC> reaction is catalytic in nature one clorine atom photodisassociated
WC> from Freon destroys many ozone molecules.

 The "life" of CFC's is given as 50 - 200 years.
Apparently, the stability that we wanted in our
chemicals is the culprit. Otherwise, they would
break down before becoming a problem.

WC>  The increased rate of melanoma outbreak in Australia occurred
WC>  right after the southern ozone hole migrated over that continent.

Quote:

 UV-B increases naturally by about 5,000% as one moves from the poles
toward the equator, largely due to the angle of the sunlight which
affects the amount of atmosphere that the sunlight must pass through.

 To see a 10% increase in UV-B, for a person at the mid-latitudes
such as in the USA, one would merly have to travel 60 miles toward
the equator. This has implications for those who worry about
potential genetic damage to marine life: marine life at low
latitudes has already successfully adapted to high doses of UV
exposure.

 One experiment published by R.Setlow in 1993 concluded that
melonomas may be caused by radiation with wavelengths above 320 nm,
wavelengths not blocked by ozone.

End Quote.

WC> The loss of the ozone layer is a demonstrated fact

 CHANGES in the ozone layer are a demonstrated fact.

RJT> Fluctuation in it may be,  but "loss"?  I'm not so sure of that.

WC>  Scientists measure increasing size of the holes each year.

Quote:

 Scientists from NASA and the Commerce Department's National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have confirmed the ozone hole
over the Antarctic this September is not only much smaller than it
was in 2000 and 2001, but has split into two separate "holes."

End Quote.

 Robert

 * SLMR 2.1a * I liked your approach. Now let's see your departure.
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5