In Digital Citizen we had a clash project named Genius hour Project. In this project, we had to choose a topic and create a research question based on that topic. For this first Genius Hour project, it didn’t have to be related to something that could help the Earth.
For this project, my topic was air pollution. I chose this topic because I was interested in air pollution. My research question for my genius hour project was: “What is the ozone layer and how can we best preserve it?“
I have learned that man made chemicals called Chlorofluorocarbons, halon and other ozone depleting substances used in foaming agents, fire extinguishers, solvents and coolants, can stay intact for years and move in the troposphere until they reach the stratosphere and are broken down by the UV rays and release bromine and chlorine which deplete the ozone layer. One chlorine/bromine molecule and deplete one hundred thousand ozone molecules. Destroying it faster than it can regenerate.
I also learnt the consequences of those chemicals being released. Each year, a seasonal hole can be seen during winter and spring. The decrease of the ozone layer also means that move UV rays reach Earth. Too much exposure may result in skin cancer and crop damages.
One of the main actions being taken to stop this was the signing of a treaty by the United States and 42 other nations. It stipulates that the CFC’s production will be cut to half , they stopped the production of Halons 1211 and 1301.
These ozone depleting gases are human made. They destroy the ozone layer 8 to 40 times faster than CFCs .
Learning all these made me be grow as a student by raising my awareness on the problem of air pollution and the consequences of it. If it continuous at this rate, soon enough there will be no more ozone layer meaning no more protection from UV rays.
What I learned could help the world by raising awareness on the huge problem that is air pollution. Many people don’t realize it. By raising awareness on this problem, on the long term, we could reduce the rate at which the ozone layer is being depleted.
My topic for the next Genius Hour project is “what are the most effective ways to reduce air pollution, while promoting the businesses that cause it.“ What I would learn in the next Genius Hour will help the world by finding ways to reduce the pollution that industries cause but still promoting it. This way, the industries will still produce the same amount of goods, but in a cleaner way. Toxic gases from industries and other sources go up in the sky and forms clouds. When it rains instead of it being normal rain, it is acid rain that falls. This acid rain kills the plants and animals.
Here is the link to my presentation