Free Essay

Population

In:

Submitted By CP24
Words 1726
Pages 7
Ozone layer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
The ozone layer is a layer in Earth's atmosphere which contains relatively high concentrations of ozone (O3). This layer absorbs 97–99% of the Sun's high frequency ultraviolet light, which is potentially damaging to the life forms on Earth.[1] It is mainly located in the lower portion of the stratosphere from approximately 20 to 30 kilometres (12 to 19 mi) above Earth, though the thickness varies seasonally and geographically.[2] The ozone layer was discovered in 1913 by the French physicists Charles Fabry and Henri Buisson. Its properties were explored in detail by the British meteorologist G. M. B. Dobson, who developed a simple spectrophotometer (the Dobsonmeter) that could be used to measure stratospheric ozone from the ground. Between 1928 and 1958 Dobson established a worldwide network of ozone monitoring stations, which continue to operate to this day. The "Dobson unit", a convenient measure of the columnar density of ozone overhead, is named in his honor. Contents [hide] * 1 Origin of ozone * 2 Ultraviolet light and ozone * 3 Distribution of ozone in the stratosphere * 4 Ozone depletion * 4.1 Regulation * 5 See also * 6 References * 7 Further reading * 8 External links |
[edit] Origin of ozone

Ozone-oxygen cycle in the ozone layer.
The photochemical mechanisms that give rise to the ozone layer were discovered by the British physicist Sidney Chapman in 1930. Ozone in the Earth's stratosphere is created by ultraviolet light striking oxygen molecules containing two oxygen atoms (O2), splitting them into individual oxygen atoms (atomic oxygen); the atomic oxygen then combines with unbroken O2 to create ozone, O3. The ozone molecule is also unstable (although, in the stratosphere, long-lived) and when ultraviolet light hits ozone it splits into a molecule of O2 and an atom of atomic oxygen, a continuing process called the ozone-oxygen cycle, thus creating an ozone layer in the stratosphere, the region from about 10 to 50 kilometres (33,000 to 160,000 ft) above Earth's surface. About 90% of the ozone in our atmosphere is contained in the stratosphere. Ozone concentrations are greatest between about 20 and 40 kilometres (12 and 25 mi), where they range from about 2 to 8 parts per million. If all of the ozone were compressed to the pressure of the air at sea level, it would be only 3 millimeters thick.[3]
[edit] Ultraviolet light and ozone

Levels of ozone at various altitudes and blocking of ultraviolet radiation.

UV-B energy levels at several altitudes. Blue line shows DNA sensitivity. Red line shows surface energy level with 10% decrease in ozone
Although the concentration of the ozone in the ozone layer is very small, it is vitally important to life because it absorbs biologically harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation coming from the sun. UV radiation is divided into three categories, based on its wavelength; these are referred to as UV-A (400–315 nm), UV-B (315–280 nm), and UV-C (280–100 nm). UV-C, which would be very harmful to all living things, is entirely screened out by ozone at around 35 kilometres (115,000 ft) altitude. UV-B radiation can be harmful to the skin and is the main cause of sunburn; excessive exposure can also cause genetic damage, resulting in problems such as skin cancer. The ozone layer is very effective at screening out UV-B; for radiation with a wavelength of 290 nm, the intensity at the top of the atmosphere is 350 million times stronger than at the Earth's surface. Nevertheless, some UV-B reaches the surface. Most UV-A reaches the surface; this radiation is significantly less harmful, although it can potentially cause genetic damages.
[edit] Distribution of ozone in the stratosphere
The thickness of the ozone layer—that is, the total amount of ozone in a column overhead—varies by a large factor worldwide, being in general smaller near the equator and larger towards the poles. It also varies with season, being in general thicker during the spring and thinner during the autumn in the northern hemisphere. The reasons for this latitude and seasonal dependence are complicated, involving atmospheric circulation patterns as well as solar intensity.
Since stratospheric ozone is produced by solar UV radiation, one might expect to find the highest ozone levels over the tropics and the lowest over polar regions. The same argument would lead one to expect the highest ozone levels in the summer and the lowest in the winter. The observed behavior is very different: most of the ozone is found in the mid-to-high latitudes of the northern and southern hemispheres, and the highest levels are found in the spring, not summer, and the lowest in the autumn, not winter in the northern hemisphere. During winter, the ozone layer actually increases in depth. This puzzle is explained by the prevailing stratospheric wind patterns, known as the Brewer-Dobson circulation. While most of the ozone is indeed created over the tropics, the stratospheric circulation then transports it poleward and downward to the lower stratosphere of the high latitudes. However in the southern hemisphere, owing to the ozone hole phenomenon, the lowest amounts of column ozone found anywhere in the world are over the Antarctic in the southern spring period of September and October.

Brewer-Dobson circulation in the ozone layer.
The ozone layer is higher in altitude in the tropics, and lower in altitude in the extratropics, especially in the polar regions. This altitude variation of ozone results from the slow circulation that lifts the ozone-poor air out of the troposphere into the stratosphere. As this air slowly rises in the tropics, ozone is produced by the overhead sun which photolyzes oxygen molecules. As this slow circulation bends towards the mid-latitudes, it carries the ozone-rich air from the tropical middle stratosphere to the mid-and-high latitudes lower stratosphere. The high ozone concentrations at high latitudes are due to the accumulation of ozone at lower altitudes.
The Brewer-Dobson circulation moves very slowly. The time needed to lift an air parcel from the tropical tropopause near 16 to 20 kilometres (9.9 to 12 mi) is about 4–5 months (about 30 feet (9.1 m) per day). Even though ozone in the lower tropical stratosphere is produced at a very slow rate, the lifting circulation is so slow that ozone can build up to relatively high levels by the time it reaches 26 kilometres (16 mi).
Ozone amounts over the continental United States (25°N to 49°N) are highest in the northern spring (April and May). These ozone amounts fall over the course of the summer to their lowest amounts in October, and then rise again over the course of the winter. Again, wind transport of ozone is principally responsible for the seasonal evolution of these higher latitude ozone patterns.
The total column amount of ozone generally increases as we move from the tropics to higher latitudes in both hemispheres. However, the overall column amounts are greater in the northern hemisphere high latitudes than in the southern hemisphere high latitudes. In addition, while the highest amounts of column ozone over the Arctic occur in the northern spring (March–April), the opposite is true over the Antarctic, where the lowest amounts of column ozone occur in the southern spring (September–October).
[edit] Ozone depletion
Main article: Ozone depletion

NASA projections of stratospheric ozone concentrations if chlorofluorocarbons had not been banned.
The ozone layer can be depleted by free radical catalysts, including nitric oxide (NO), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydroxyl (OH), atomic chlorine (Cl), and atomic bromine (Br). While there are natural sources for all of these species, the concentrations of chlorine and bromine have increased markedly in recent years due to the release of large quantities of man-made organohalogen compounds, especially chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and bromofluorocarbons.[4] These highly stable compounds are capable of surviving the rise to the stratosphere, where Cl and Br radicals are liberated by the action of ultraviolet light. Each radical is then free to initiate and catalyze a chain reaction capable of breaking down over 100,000 ozone molecules. The breakdown of ozone in the stratosphere results in the ozone molecules being unable to absorb ultraviolet radiation. Consequently, unabsorbed and dangerous ultraviolet-B radiation is able to reach the Earth’s surface. Ozone levels over the northern hemisphere have been dropping by 4% per decade. Over approximately 5% of the Earth's surface, around the north and south poles, much larger seasonal declines have been seen, and are described as ozone holes.
In 2009, nitrous oxide (N2O) was the largest ozone-depleting substance emitted through human activities.[5]
[edit] Regulation
In 1978, the United States, Canada and Norway enacted bans on CFC-containing aerosol sprays that are thought to damage the ozone layer. The European Community rejected an analogous proposal to do the same. In the U.S., chlorofluorocarbons continued to be used in other applications, such as refrigeration and industrial cleaning, until after the discovery of the Antarctic ozone hole in 1985. After negotiation of an international treaty (the Montreal Protocol), CFC production was sharply limited beginning in 1987 and phased out completely by 1996.[citation needed] Since that time, the treaty has been amended to ban CFC production after 1995 in the developed countries, and later in developing. Today, over 160 countries have signed the treaty. Beginning January 1, 1996, only recycled and stockpiled CFCs will be available for use in developed countries like the US. This production phaseout is possible because of efforts to ensure that there will be substitute chemicals and technologies for all CFC uses.[6]
On August 2, 2003, scientists announced that the depletion of the ozone layer may be slowing down due to the international ban on CFCs.[7] Three satellites and three ground stations confirmed that the upper atmosphere ozone depletion rate has slowed down significantly during the past decade. The study was organized by the American Geophysical Union. Some breakdown can be expected to continue due to CFCs used by nations which have not banned them, and due to gases which are already in the stratosphere. CFCs have very long atmospheric lifetimes, ranging from 50 to over 100 years, so the final recovery of the ozone layer is expected to require several lifetimes.

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Population

...has caused appalling human rights abuses in China, including forcible abortions and sterilizations. Since the policy went into effect, China has had a significant gender imbalance, an abnormal sex ratio. China’s rapidly aging population—combined with lower fertility rates—is expected to present significant social and economic challenges. It also brings other problems, for example, the "four-two-one" problem and unequal enforcement. Argument 0: One-child policy benefits exaggerated The government states that 400 million births were prevented by the one-child policy until 2011; this claim is disputed as official propaganda by Wang Feng, director of the Brookings-Tsinghua Center for Public Policy, and Cai Yong from the Carolina Population Center at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, who put the number of prevented births from 1979 to 2009 at around 100 or 200 million. Argument 1: Low fertility rate can’t maintain the sustainable development of society. According to the sixth census population, currently one couple only has 1.2 children on average. In cities, the number is less than 0.9. Even for people from countryside, it is 1.5. Under ideal mathematic model, the fertility rate should be 2.1. The 1.2 fertility rate means the number of population decrease 40% every generation. The low fertility rate can’t maintain the sustainable development of society. According to the experience in other developed countries, it is almost impossible that the fertility rate will increase...

Words: 1053 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Population

...Population explosion is the most serious problem facing our country today. With 16 per cent of the world’s population, India is toady the second largest populations’ country in the world. As on March 1.1991, when the last census was conducted, the country’s population stood at 846.30 million, with 439.23 males and 407.07 females. The country’s population is currently estimated at about 950 millions. The population growth has been extremely rapid in the last 50 years. The phenomenal growth is now more appropriately termed as “population explosion”. The phenomenal growth rate in population is largely because of the industrial and technological revolutions that had taken place in the recent times. The new technologies have not only brought down the death rate because of the vastly improved Medicare resulting in increased life expectancies, but had also facilitated increased food production to take care of food needs of the increasing population. Though population explosion is a major problem being faced by several other countries too, with the world population estimated to reach 7 billion by the beginning of the 21st century, the problem is much more severe in India because of the increasing pressure on the limited resources of the country. With the growth of food grains not keeping pace with the increase in population during some years because of the unfavourable weather conditions, the specter of hunger hunts millions of households in the country. Even when the country...

Words: 400 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Population

...all link hands we could wrap around the world 175 times. We could even reach to the moon and back eighteen times. The number of people on our planet is increasing all the time. MATTHEW HOLBROOK, REPORTER: Imagine this grain of rice is one new person added to the planet. And each day our world's population grows by this much. That's 200,000 extra people in a single day. It's a huge number, but it's only in recent history that our population's really taken off. At first, the world grew really slowly. Scientists reckon it took tens of thousands of years to reach the million mark. Over time, things started to speed up. So in the past few years you can see there's been huge growth in a short space of time. That growth is likely to continue towards ten billion by the end of the century. So why is our population getting so high? Well, we have better healthcare and hygiene now than in the past. We've learnt to deal with some dangerous diseases, and more of us are living longer. Australia is growing, too. In the last 50 years our population has more than doubled to twenty two million people. So what's it likely to mean to you if our population keeps getting a lot bigger? By 2050, our population is expected to grow to thirty six million people. REPORTER: It might sound like a tight squeeze and you could imagine us being crammed together like sardines in a can. But in a country as big as Australia, space isn't going to be the...

Words: 555 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Populations

...France: Population of France in (1960) were 44,772,000. Population in 2010 was 62,788,000. An increase of 18,016,000 over the past 50 years. Population Growth: Population increase 40.24% over past 50 years. Urban vs Rural: Urban Population: in (1960) population was 28,853,870 in urban areas. In (2010) population was 50,488,930. An increase of 21,635,060 people. Urban Pop. Growth: 74.99%. In 1960 61.90% people in France living in urban areas. In 2010 were 77.80%. An increase of 16.90%. Rural Population: In 1960 were 17,759,820 living in rural areas. In 2010 were 14,406,870; a decrease of 3,352,950. Rural Growth: Decreased by 18.88% over 50 years. In 1960, 38.10% of the population was living in rural areas. In 2010, 22.20% were living in rural areas. A decrease of 15.9% over the past 50 years. Ireland: population in 1960 was 2,828,600 people. In 2010 was 4,475,000; an increase of 1,647,000 people. Ireland Growth: Over last 50 years Ireland grew 58.23%. Urban vs Rural: Urban population: in 1960 1,295,499 people in urban areas. In 2010 were 2,769,626 living in urban areas; an increase of 1,474,127 people. Urban Growth: That’s 133.79% growth in the last 50 years. In 1960, 45.80% of the total population lived in urban areas. In 2010, 61.90% of the people were living in rural areas; an increase of 16.10%. Rural Population: in 1960 1,533,101 people living in rural areas. In 2010 1,704,730 living in rural areas; an increase if 171,629. Rural Growth: Only an increase of...

Words: 489 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Population

...Population: population refers to organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. Population growth, population control …etc are the hot matters of debate these days. Population explosion is causing severe climatic changes, food and sanitation problems and in one or the other way affecting the health of the people. Globally population is erupting thus by making the life on the green planet miserable. Here we should see the world as two different poles one as more developed countries and the other as less developed countries. former eating away the resources of the later. Looking at the point that population growth affecting the health of the people. Different countries have different strategies regarding the health care system provided to their citizens. Population explosion is affecting health of the people in many different ways such as Inadequate health care resources Inefficient Management of the available resources due huge population Lack of education on importance of the sanitation, sexual health care etc. These problems can be seen majorly in less developed countries. <stats> If we take India in this case, we have gdp of more than 30% of the Australia’s. But their population is just about 10% of ours. By this they can provide good health care to their people. Population rise also increases the poverty. In India the saddest part is govt is reluctant to recognize the poor as poor. This can be clearly seen by the...

Words: 1528 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Population

...ESSON 2: POPULATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UNIT I: POPULATION  LESSON 2  ‘POPULATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT’ - Dr. Anupama Rajput Studying this chapter should enable you to understand:  * Theory of Demographic Transition * Demographic Profile of India * Population Growth and Economic Development * Population Policy of India Introduction: The size and composition of a country’s population can exert a powerful influence on a country’s development. The population size, composition, and distribution influence the range of industries a country can support and the pool of talent that are available in the country.In size of population, India is the second largest country in the world after China, constitutes 2.4 per cent of the world’s land area and supports 16.25 per cent of the world’s population. The population growth in India has proved to be more an obstacle to its development efforts rather than a contributory factor in economic growth.  Theory of Demographic Transition: The theory of demographic transition states the impact of economic development on the population growth of a country. The earliest systematic discussion on the theory of population growth is provided by Malthus in 1798. Malthus stated that population growth always exceeds the growth of means of subsistence and warned that the uncontrolled population had to be corrected by nature which would be very painful. Economists however, argued that the population growth is a transitory phenomenon that...

Words: 5546 - Pages: 23

Premium Essay

Population

...POPULATION REGULATION     DEFINITIONS Density-dependent factor - one whose influence on population dynamics is proportional to population density, eg., competition for food Density-independent factor - one whose influence on population dynamics is not related to population density, eg., prolonged drought, late frost Density legislative factor - one that exerts its influence indirectly, by affecting the supply of food or some other resource, eg., drought decreases food, wind storm increases supply of fallen trees Density-governing factor - a factor that regulates a population, that is, that acts as a negative feedback to keep the population at or close to a particular density NOTES I. Review of exponential growth and logistic growth II. Are populations "regulated?" i.e., do they: remain at or near carrying capacity? avoid acute shortage of resources? III. FACTORS WHICH INFLUENCE POPULATION SIZE A. Weather 1.Weather directly influences growth rates and survival 2.Weather affects supply of food and shelter 3.Weather catastrophes increase mortality B. Space 1. Shelter, refuge, and nesting/denning sites 2. Sessile organisms often space-limited plants - self-thinning barnacles C. Food (energy/nutrients) Quantity Quality D. Climate/space/food - the basic components of habitat Called DENSITY-LEGISLATIVE FACTORS - determine K Amount of suitable habitat the basic determinant of abundance LAW OF THE MINIMUM (Liebig) IV. REGULATION - NEGATIVE FEEDBACK - Density...

Words: 435 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Population Geography

...Population geography is a large branch of geography that contains several different topics related to the world's population. The first of these is population distribution, which is described as the study of where people live. World population is uneven as some places are considered rural and are sparsely populated, while others are more urban and are densely populated. Population geographers interested in population distribution often study past distributions of people to understand how and why specific areas have grown into large urban centers today. Usually, sparsely populated areas are harsh places to live such as Canada's northern territories, while densely populated areas like Europe or the coastal United States are more hospitable. Closely related to population distribution is population density - another topic in population geography. Population density studies the average number of people in an area by dividing the number of people present by total area. Usually these numbers are given as persons per square kilometer or mile. There are several factors which affect population density and these are often subjects of population geographers' study as well. Such factors can relate to the physical environment like climate and topography or be related to the social, economic and political environments of an area. For example, areas with harsh climates like California's Death Valley region are sparsely populated. By contrast, Tokyo and Singapore are densely populated because...

Words: 422 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Demographics in Population

...Rebecca Svetlik-Reese American Intercontinental University Table of Contents Section 1: demographics of the U.S. population 1.1 Current Statistics 1.2 Recent Trends 1.3 Forecasted Trends 1.4 Immigration versus Native 1.5 Religion 1.6 Age 1.7 Race Current Statistics According to the 2010 census completed by United States Census Bureau the population is 308,746,065. Of that number 151,781,326 were male, and 156,964,212 were female. The overall median age for a person in the United States is 37.2 years. For a male the median age is 35.8 years old and for a female is also 38.5 years old. (Makun, 2011) Recent Trends In 2010 the census reported that the population had increased 9.7 percent since the year 2000. The population from the 2000 census shows the population at 281.4 million people. This figure was lower than the 1990’s growth rate which was at 13.2 percent. The growth rate for the 1980’s is at 9.8 percent. Most of the growth rate increase has been toward the south and west of the country. (Makun, 2011) Forecasted Trends According to the US census Bureau the U.S. population is forecasted to increase to 417 million people by the year 2060. By the year 2030 one out of five US. Citizen will be 65 years old or older. It is also forecasted that by 2044 more than half the population will be a minority. The population growth rate is expected to slow because of infertility issues, birth control, and the baby boomers decline. (Colby...

Words: 343 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Aging Population

...The Aging Population The aging population is living longer than ever before and according to statistics this longevity and aging will continue to grow. The importance of providing the Fifty million aging Baby Boomers are sparking demand for products and environments that accommodate their changing physical and sensory capabilities. Today, one out of every 9 Americans is "old"—another former youth turns 50 every 8 seconds. Those age 65 and older now exceed 35 million, a number poised to explode. January 2011 ushered in the first of approximately 77 million Baby Boomers, born from 1946 through 1964 and are surging toward the gates of retirement (transgenerational). This growth will steadily increase and the population must be prepared to accommodate the aging population. According to the Bureau of Vital Statistics the aging population is the fastest growing population and will continue to increase. This dramatic growth in numbers and proportions, increased life expectancies, and energetic life styles, now enables us to live 20 to 25% of our lives in active retirement. Moreover, today's physically and intellectually active younger generations predict that tomorrow's elderly population will be better educated, healthier, culturally literate and, as individuals, more discerning consumers. Changes in Demographics Sustainable development means sustainable and healthy development of the whole human society on the basis of mutual coordination and common development...

Words: 1348 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Populations Pyramid

...19 February 2014 “Population Pyramids Assignment” 1) Brazil Brazil’s population is growing slowly since the lower end of the pyramid is wider than the top, but the lowest portion of the pyramid is not as wide as the middle. This means that birth rates are higher than death rates, but does not mean that the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is high. It seems as though Brazil had its highest rate of growth between 1980 and 2004. 2) Swaziland Swaziland’s population is growing rapidly since the lower end of the pyramid is much wider than the top. Every age group that decreases in age accounts for a higher percentage of the population. This means that the birth rate is much higher than the death rate, and also that the TFR is high. 3) Estonia Estonia’s population is decreasing slowly. This is because the population pyramid is mostly top-heavy, and the proportion of the population that is in the top half is not significantly greater than the proportion of the population that is in the bottom half. It also seems as though there are more women in Estonia than males that live longer. There is also an echo boom in this pyramid for people between the ages of 50 and 64 and their children between the ages of 25 and 34. 4) Vietnam Vietnam’s population is increasing slowly because their population pyramid has a narrowing base. This means that birth rates are falling and momentum for future population growth is not nearly as high as it was. It also seems that men and women are likely to live...

Words: 512 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Aging Population

...government policies have helped to ease the aging process.” Discuss this statement in relation to your particular field of study or interest (e.g. economics, science, medicine, social policy, architecture, psychology, technological inventions). “Population ageing is both a triumph and a challenge” (Lim, 2008). With the advances in economics and medical development as well as better health systems, Singaporeans now are having longer life expectancy than they used to have in the past. Current research has shown that Singapore is one of the fastest ageing populations among Asia. However, the drop in birth rates over the past years has resulted in a smaller ratio of younger Singaporeans. Chan (2000) states that as there are fewer people to take care of the elderly, taking care of the elderly will rest on the government’s shoulder and this will has implications on the economy, financial security, living arrangement as well as health care system within the country (Chan, 2000). With researches done on the ageing population and the social policies, in terms of economy, living arrangement and health care system, implemented, these can help to ease the ageing process. In order to maintain financial security so that the problem of ageing population will not affect the economy, the government has come out with a few policies. As Singaporeans now live longer, they will thus have to work longer. The government promotes lifelong employability to enhance elderly’s employability. By extending the...

Words: 785 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Population

...their effect on the Environment The effect of overpopulation and over consumption on the environment has had a massive negative effect. Overpopulation is an undesirable condition where the number of existing human population exceeds the carrying capacity of Earth. We are now adding one billion people to the planet every 12 years. That's about 220,000 per day. (Howmany?.org) This makes overpopulation a big threat to our environment but the bigger issue is that we are not using our resources efficiently to solve the problem. The problem includes shortages of all our resources, war and social conflict, limits on personal freedom, overcrowding in large cities and the health and survival of other species. In the last fifty years, there have been a vast number of people and organizations rising up and speaking against this problem, searching for a solution to this detrimental issue. Howmany?.org is just one of many organizations that are empowering people to find the best population size for Earth. They do this through outreach and advocacy programs that are created to add population into conversations and get people thinking. While overpopulation is not the only cause of environmental problems, it is a root cause that people should be aware of. Growth in population, affluence, and technology are jointly responsible for environmental problems concerning overconsumption. We use technology to produce and gather most of our resources. While technology helps make life easier for...

Words: 2797 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

Population

...TaVonna Daniel 4/30/15 Human Population growth, Natural Selection, and the tragedy of the commons Human Population simply means a number of people, living in a particular area country or region at a particular time. The current human population growth is something unknown in the history of the world. If we look back to the history of human population growth Birth rate expressed as number of births per one thousand per year currently also 13 in the U.S. but death rate expressed as the number of deaths per year are currently 8 in the U.S. So the rate of natural increase is 5 per thousand. Although the value is affected by both birth rate and death rate, the recent history of the human population has been affected more by declines in death rates than by in birth rates. The introduction of public health measures, such as better nutrition greater access to medical care improved sanitation more widespread immunization. The rapid growth of population is one of the greatest obstacles in the progress of developing countries. If the population grows fast, poverty cannot be eradicated. Progress made in the fields of agriculture, industry and technology fails to cope with the needs of a rapidly growing population and leads to poverty and unemployment. A high rate of birth and a decline in death rates have resulted in population explosions, especially in underdeveloped countries. The Census Report of 2001 states that while in Europe, the population growth rate is 0.3 per cent, in India...

Words: 374 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Elderly Population

...Vulnerable Population: Elderly population NUR/440 July 11, 2011 Anavictoria Fortaleza Vulnerable Population and Self-Awareness Paper The Elderly Population According to Chesnay (2008) “vulnerable populations are those with greater than average risk of developing health problems by virtue of their marginalized sociocultural status, their limited access to economic resources or personal characteristics such as gender or age. Anyone can be vulnerable at any given point in time as a result of life circumstances or response to illness or events” (p 3-4). For the last few decades, society and government have put a great deal of concern and interest on the aging population. The number of elderly population in the United States is rapidly increasing. The US population under the age of 65 tripled during the 20th century. This number is to double by the middle of next century. Over 70 million American citizens will be considered elderly by 2030, or about 20% of the population will be senior citizen (Walsh, 2009). The growing numbers are attributed to aging “Baby Boomers” and increasing life expectancies. Disability and disease are more common in elderly population such as hip fractures, parkinson’s disease, malnutrition, cardivovascular disease and malignant cancer. More than 70% of the elderly population has been diagnosed with a chronic disease (Pishchita, 2007). According to CDC, arthritis is the leading cause of disability among individuals over 65 years of age and 47% of...

Words: 1056 - Pages: 5