Is the environment suffering? Of course it is, statistics have shown that the degradation of the envrionment have been worsening at a rapid rate. One perfect example is global warming. Global warming is the increase in average temperature of the earth's near surface air and oceans. The figure shows the increase in the earth's average temperature from 1860 to 2000. This increase in temperature is largely due to industralisation in many countries. Industralisation results in the emission of gases which are called"greenhouse gases" and these gases includes carbon dioxide(CO2), methane and chloroflurocarbons (CFCs). These gases form a layer in the earth's atmosphere and acts like a greenhouse, and traps heat within the earth. Therefore, leading to the increase in the earth's average temperature.

The world undergoing modernisation and mechanisation brings about many problems too. take for example air-conditioners, something that most households have. Air-conditioners have become a need to most of the people, especially in develpoed countries in the tropic area such as Singapore. However, the air-conditioners may help one sleep better. But little do they know that it produces Chlorofluorocarbons(CFCs).

CFC is a kind of gas which is produced when a pieve of styrofoam board is broken. These gases rise up to the earths atmosphere and contribute to the layer of greenhouse gases. These gases not only contribute to the green house effect but also contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer. The Ozone layer is a layer of ozone (O3) that reduces the amout of ultra-violet rays tthat reaches the earth. However CFC reacts with this layer of ozone and thus depleting the layer, making it thinner and causing a hole in the layer. The hole in the ozone layer is shown in the figure above.The hole in the ozone layer woould thus increase the amout of Ultra-violet rays reaching the earth's surface, increasing the radiation and thus increasing the chances of skin dieseases and cancers.

Yi Cong