Mysteries of ozone depletion continue 25 years after the discovery of the Antarctic ozone hole

ScienceDaily (Aug. 30, 2011) ? Even after many decades of studying ozone and its loss from our atmosphere miles above Earth, plenty of mysteries and surprises remain, including an unexpected loss of ozone over the Arctic this past winter, an authority on the topic said in Denver Colorado on May 29. She also discussed chemistry and climate change, including some proposed ideas to "geoengineer" Earth's climate to slow down or reverse global warming.

The talk happened at the 242nd National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), being held this week.

In a Kavli Foundation Innovations in Chemistry Lecture, Susan Solomon, Ph.D., of the University of Colorado, Boulder, said that the combined efforts of scientists, the public, industry and policy makers to stop ozone depletion is one of science's greatest success stories, but unanswered questions remain. And ozone is still disappearing.

"We're no longer producing the primary chemicals -- chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) -- that caused the problem, but CFCs have very long lifetimes in our atmosphere, and so we'll have ozone depletion for several more decades," said Solomon. "There are still some remarkable mysteries regarding exactly how these chlorine compounds behave in Antarctica -- and it's amazing that we still have much to learn, even after studying ozone for so long."

The ozone layer is crucial to life on Earth, forming a protective shield high in the atmosphere that blocks potentially harmful ultraviolet rays in sunlight. Scientists have known since 1930 that ozone forms and decomposes through chemical processes. The first hints that human activity threatened the ozone layer emerged in the 1970s, and included one warning from Paul Crutzen, Ph.D., that agricultural fertilizers might reduce ozone levels. Another hint was from F. Sherwood Rowland, Ph.D., and Mario Molina, Ph.D., who described how CFCs in aerosol spray cans and other products could destroy the ozone layer. The three shared a 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for that research. In 1985, British scientists discovered a "hole," a completely unexpected area of intense ozone depletion over Antarctica. Solomon's 1986 expedition to Antarctica provided some of the clinching evidence that underpinned a global ban on CFCs and certain other ozone-depleting gases.

Evidence suggests that the ozone depletion has stopped getting worse. "Ozone can be thought of as a patient in remission, but it's too early to declare recovery," said Solomon. And surprises, such as last winter's loss of 40% of the ozone over the Arctic still occur due to the extremely long lifetimes of ozone-destroying substances released years ago before the ban.

Solomon also took listeners on a tour of gases and aerosols that affect climate change and described how these substances can contribute to global warming.

"On the thousand-year timescale, carbon dioxide is by far the most important greenhouse gas produced by humans, but there are some other interesting -- though much less abundant -- gases such as perfluorinated compounds that also last thousands of years and similarly affect our climate for millennia," said Solomon.

Increases in atmospheric "greenhouse gases" such as carbon dioxide trap heat in the atmosphere, causing Earth's temperature to creep upward. Global warming is causing ocean levels to rise and could lead some regions to become dry "dust bowls."

Dealing with global warming has prompted a lot of interesting research on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, how to adapt to a changing climate and on the possibility of 'geoengineering' to cool the climate.

"Recent studies on 'geoengineering' the Earth's climate involve stratospheric particles of different sorts," she said. "Most of these schemes involve sulfate particles, but other types have been proposed."

The talk took place on Monday, August 29 in the Wells Fargo Theater at the Colorado Convention Center.

Sponsored by The Kavli Foundation, a philanthropic organization that supports basic scientific research, the lectures are designed to address the urgent need for vigorous, "outside the box" thinking by scientists as they tackle the world's mounting challenges, including climate change, emerging diseases, and water and energy shortages.

"We are dedicated to advancing science for the benefit of humanity, promoting public understanding of scientific research, and supporting scientists and their work," said Kavli Foundation President Robert W. Conn in a statement. "The Kavli Foundation Innovations in Chemistry Lecture program at the ACS national meetings fits perfectly with our commitment to support groundbreaking discovery and promote public understanding."

The Kavli lectures debuted at the Anaheim meeting in March during this International Year of Chemistry and will continue through 2013. They will address the urgent need for vigorous, new, "outside-the-box"- thinking, as scientists tackle many of the world's mounting challenges like climate change, emerging diseases, and water and energy shortages. The Kavli Foundation, an internationally recognized philanthropic organization known for its support of basic scientific innovation, agreed to sponsor the lectures in conjunction with ACS in 2010.

Email or share this story:

---

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by American Chemical Society.

---

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110829210818.htm

toms shoes vegan diet kardashian family red arrow verizon strike update ghost rider spirit of vengeance starbucks

Officials: 5 dead in suicide attack in Iraq mosque (AP)

BAGHDAD ? A suicide bomber blew himself up inside Baghdad's largest Sunni mosque Sunday night, killing five people during prayers, officials said.

They said parliament lawmaker Khalid al-Fahdawi was among the dead in the 9:40 p.m Sunday strike. Seventeen worshippers were wounded.

Maj. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi, a spokesman for Baghdad's military operations command, confirmed the attack happened inside the Um al-Qura mosque during prayers in the western Baghdad neighborhood of Al-Jamiaah.

The blue-domed building is the largest Sunni mosque in Baghdad.

The attack hit Sunnis who were praying in a special service during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, which ends Tuesday. It demonstrates anew that security measures to protect Iraqis as U.S. forces prepare to leave remain riddled with gaps, and shows the extent to which militants want to extend violence even as the eight-year- U.S. presence winds down.

That the bomber detonated his explosives vest inside the mosque is particularly alarming, because it is reminiscent of a 2006 attack on a Shiite shrine in the Sunni city of Samarra that fueled widespread sectarian violence and brought Iraq to the brink of civil war.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for Sunday's bombing. Suicide bombings generally are a hallmark of al-Qaida, which is dominated by Sunnis.

The mosque's security is provided by the government-supported Sunni Endowment, and al-Moussawi raised the possibility that the bomber had inside help.

"For sure there must have been someone inside the mosque who helped the bomber," al-Moussawi said. "It must have been someone who is protecting the mosque."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/world/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110828/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iraq

michelle williams rose mcgowan milla jovovich mrsa mrsa immortal immortal

Gouldian finches: take care of these beautiful birds, the right way to ...

By Georgina Dawes No.

Gouldian finches are one of the most beautiful of birds, as pets they are great colors, and add to your home lively with three different colors in bird feathers:? Red, black and yellow feathers with turquoise, green and purple, like a bird between the male and female birds, bird obvious differences. Stress in men? Bright feathers to attract women of color patterns to distinguish, even if the color is consistent. As a means to make their pet behavior education, what makes them happy environment, they are wild birds, is important for happiness as pets, these birds are vocal and active, even if they are no? ? Hands? Farm animals, wild birds are disturbed, they can be handled by humans, but the HU does not need another bird birds live birds will guide your family life more interesting, if you bought a couple of Vinci, the? is interactive entertainment to watch two birds singing to each other, if you are willing to take a lot to learn with other birds.Keep Gouldian finches in a large cage or aviary interactive more about your pet, aviary, which are recommended for bird aircraft and activities to make them happy aviaries or cages may be internal or external, as long as the temperature and the amount of light is the right place, if you choose to keep birds outdoors and make sure they get good protection. Purchase of nets placed in the cage to prevent small animals to climb into their home, and protect them against bad weather, if you select as their home aviary, and then consider the two doors, so that the birds do not? T escape when you are in and out. Cage should be wider than its narrow habitat for the bird to fly back and forth in the bass can be made of wood or concrete. Cage between holes should not be? Tons to be broad NOK to get it HU bird? The head and stuck with it. Place a towel or newspaper in the cage, such as lines, do not put gravel in the bottom of the cage for birds, because birds are likely to digest the gravel so. Patients, including a bath or in the cage or aviary birds for the bird boss fun, they like water Gouldian finches feeding to provide seeds and fruits and vegetables in small pieces of them, and they live to enjoy the green leafy vegetables and insects as well. You can buy at a local pet store birds, you can use your own food, vegetables and fruit for them. Deleted after a period to ensure that these foods so they do not destroy, so that the bird is sick, and always provide clean drinking water and bathing water for birds. Gouldian finches are rare species, but also difficult to find and buy time, it? are usually of this bird species to be transported out of the country, if they are not local pet store, if you want to breed Gouldian finches that? ? Recommended that you buy a bird club or from the state for the birds. Buy pet shop is not printing them? T give you any insurance you need, if you are a serious bird breeder bird when Hu process by adding it to go? The egg, many bird owners and breeders suggest that you and your baby mix of vitamins and minerals should contain grass bird nest, or nest materials, you can buy from a pet store, you can put these materials in the nest nesting birds, so that the eggs will hatch will be NOK support. Similarly, HU, or bird species is not as good a small sealed box. This is why the aviary suggest that if you regularly nesting birds. May require up to 10 eggs a day, the eggs hatch an egg usually occurs a week after a half-breed, do not let the birds multiply the ratio is near, because of inbreeding, in dull colors and low birds.The environment you for your Gouldian finches and maintenance, you fail to give their offspring the opportunity to have deteriorated a great pet, whether you own Finch, because you like their presence, or if you are interested in varieties, as long as you participate or failed to prevent the pet illnesses and more information you will grow attached to the birds, they can be as long as 12 years if taken proper care, which not only love the birds!

fine feathers About the author

Georgina Dawes is Gouldian finches owner of the bird enthusiasts and author of care in www.FinchesCare. com, you can visit her website to read to keep happy and healthy HU bird

Articles related Bird

Source: http://www.veterinarialahacienda.com/pets/gouldian-finches-take-care-of-these-beautiful-birds-the-right-way-to-keep-them-happy/

country strong soundtrack wedding crashers san diego chargers san diego chargers damian mcginty hp touchpad review libya

OECD sees cutting Europe, Japan growth forecasts (Reuters)

JACKSON HOLE, Wyoming (Reuters) ? The OECD is prepared to cut growth expectations for much of the world, including Europe and Japan, the organization's head said on Friday.

"We're not talking about a contraction of the economies, but a slowdown of the growth," Angel Gurria, secretary-general, of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development club of industrialized nations, said in an interview with Reuters Insider in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where central bankers are gathered for an annual meeting.

Only a few countries, like Turkey, are still experiencing strong growth. The rest are linked together in what has become a general slowdown: "In open economies, if they are not growing of course they don't buy from the others," Gurria said.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Friday said the U.S. central bank had marked down its outlook for U.S. economic growth and made clear the policy focus was still on spurring a stronger recovery, but he did not provide any fresh details on steps the Fed could take.

Calling the tone of Bernanke's speech "very sober," Gurria said that nevertheless, "It's always good to listen to the head of the Fed saying, 'We're here, we're vigilant, we will do whatever it takes,'"

For the full interview, please see: http://reut.rs/oEBEio

Despite the near-term gloom, Gurria said there is still room for optimism on the long-term outlook.

"Not only did he say there's a way out, there is of course, but he mentioned many of the reasons," he said of Bernanke's comments. "What we are seeing at the OECD is: Go structural, go social. That is if you ran out of monetary policy room, you ran out of fiscal room because your pockets are empty, so you go structural."

(Reporting by Dan Burns, writing by Ann Saphir; Editing by Padraic Cassidy, Gary Crosse, Leslie Adler)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/japan/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110826/bs_nm/us_oecd_gurria

believe lord of the rings syphilis backstreet boys ray charles carmen electra regina spektor

U.S. believes Google's Page knew about pharmacy ads: report (Reuters)

(Reuters) ? Justice Department investigators believed that Google Inc's Chief Executive Larry Page knew about improper online pharmacy ads that Google carried, and allowed the ads for years, the Wall Street Journal said.

On Wednesday, Google agreed to pay $500 million to settle a criminal probe into ads it accepted for online Canadian pharmacies selling drugs in the United States.

"Larry Page knew what was going on," Peter Neronha, the Rhode Island U.S. Attorney who led the probe, told the Journal.

Neronha was not immediately available for comment.

Prosecutors found internal emails and documents that, they say, show Page was aware of the allegedly illicit ad sales, the newspaper said.

The Justice Department said earlier this week that the advertisements led to illegal imports of prescription drugs into the country.

The Justice Department contends that Google knew it was potentially violating U.S. law since at least 2003, but didn't take effective action to ban the ads until it mounted an undercover sting operation against the Internet search giant in 2009, the journal said.

"As we've said, we take responsibility for our actions. With hindsight, we shouldn't have allowed these ads on Google in the first place," a spokesperson for Google said in an email.

(Reporting by Anand Basu in Bangalore; editing by Carol Bishopric)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/internet/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110827/wr_nm/us_google

progress book durian university of miami university of miami ooma miami hurricanes david cross

Dina Lohan Pens Movie, Seeks A-List Cast

We knew Dina Lohan was delusional, but this takes the cake.

The mother of Lindsay Lohan is telling investors she can snag some of the biggest actors in Hollywood for her new movie. Yes, Di-Lo penned a movie.

Dina is trying to raise $5.28 million to shoot Growing Defiant, which "takes a hard look at social pressures that can lead a kid in the wrong direction."  

Wonder where she got that plot line.

According to her business plan, the actors she'll go after include Dakota Fanning, Selena Gomez, Michael Cera, James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, Tina Fey, Amanda Seyfried, Hayden Panettiere, Emma Stone, and Mila Kunis.

And son Michael Lohan, Jr., in the starring role of a heroin addict.

Hilariously, an asterisked note at the bottom of the plan says this is a "suggested cast list only. Michael Lohan is the only cast member who has been signed."

Good luck landing those stars for $5.28 million total. Or at all.

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/08/dina-lohan-pens-movie-seeks-a-list-cast/

dodgers crude oil prices the cars kendall jenner metrolink the help pagani huayra

Lionheart Assurance Solutions Gets An A+ Rating : Creative Techies

Lionheart Assurance Solutions has been listed with the BBB since November 3, 2009. This indicates Lionheart Assurance Solutions fulfills the BBB Certification requirements and supports the assistance of the Better Business Bureau. BBB Ratings vary from A to F, with the highest ranking being an A .? Lionheart Assurance Solutions enjoys an A+? rating.
?
A rating from the BBB reflects numerous things, including their own opinion about the business.. Experience with the enterprise, as well as information contained in the BBB files, also come into play anytime ratings are being awarded. While a BBB score is not a promise of reliability and efficiency, it should be taken into account together with other details about the business.? It is a widely accepted standard known in the marketplace for consumers and ought to be seen as a indication that the organization is responsible to a 3rd party entity.
?
Lionheart Assurance Solutions has received the BBB?s A? score by providing outstanding service with outstanding quality worker benefits options. The firm has presented worker benefits plans to numerous people from across North American businesses since the late nineties. Lionheart Assurance Solutions is headed by a carefully-chosen team of people who have more than a hundred years of blended experience in company acumen.
?
Lionheart Assurance Solutions offers legal plans, identity theft coverage, as well as data security training to the employees of companies both big and small. These plans are presented at no direct cost to employers.
?
?The price of the peace of mind these policies offer is about the cost of a cup of coffee per day. The accessibility of these plans to the employee ?levels the stage? in benefit options, especially for smaller businesses.? Lionheart Assurance Solutions offers their distinctive benefits programs to firms of all sizes, but small companies with lesser personnel are the real winners in that Lionheart Assurance Solutions places special emphasis and pride in offering their benefit programs to small companies.
?
?No matter how hard an staff works, personal complications are bound to surface at almost any time, causing compromised output of top quality work, as well as overall performance.. This can potentially have an effect on the bottom line earnings of a company.
?
Lionheart Assurance Solutions , while not a law firm, offers legal plan benefits to staff which will gain those employees use of qualified lawyers, if the need arises. .
Lionheart Assurance Solutions knows that employees and employers need to understand how to protect private company information, as well as the related dangers of identity theft.? Therefore, the provider offers training for both companies and staff in these areas..
?
Lionheart Assurance Solutions training solutions are designed to have an? effect on the overall thinking process of employees. The positives of the training include better communication between the employees and employers, as well as heightened productivity.. Through feeling more comfortable about the safety of their identities, employees can become far more concerned on seeing the company improve its standing in the market.. This helps to reduce employee turnover, provides a much better work environment and attracts top quality employees

Filed Under: Featured

Source: http://creativetechies.com/lionheart-assurance-solutions-gets-an-a-rating

acapulco acapulco michael caine war jeanne d arc zeppelin madison square garden