The ozone concentration is decreasing by human activities. The ozone is a gas in the atmosphere. The ozone layer is 15 ... 45 kilometers above the Earth. The damaged ozone layer doesn't protect life on Earth from harmful ultraviolet rays. The molecules of ozone contain three oxygen atoms and they are unstable. Ozone is a very reactive gas and it is toxic at low concentrations too. Ozone plays a vital role in the atmosphere. The ozone has a protective role in human living. It is absorbing the biologically harmful ultraviolet sunlight.

 

Ozone is found in the stratosphere, it is stratospheric ozone. The maximum concentration of ozone is 10 ppm (part per million) in stratosphere. It is absorbing the ultraviolet radiation. Should protect the stratospheric ozone. There is tropospheric ozone too. In this part of the atmosphere the ozone is a pollutant. This ozone arises in car engine. It is often called "bad" ozone because it can damage life on Earth. It is a toxic material. It is a smog.

Ozone is created by ultraviolet radiation (wavelength < 242 nm) in the stratosphere. The radiation breaks down oxygen molecules (O₂) into oxygen atoms (O), which merge with other oxygen molecules and creates the ozone molecule (O₃). The ozone is unstable. The ozone cycle has two part process: ozone formation and ozone break down.

The tropospheric ozone is generated the with nitrogen oxides (NO, NO₂) mediation. The nitrogen oxides (NO_x) are exhaust gases, those cars are emitted.  The nitrogen dioxide decomposes nitrogen oxide + oxygen atom by ultraviolet radiation. The oxygen atom combines with an atmospheric oxygen molecule and ozone is created. The ozone is unstable. It decomposes and will be oxygen molecule + oxygen atom. The nitrogen oxides + ozone mixture are toxic.

 

The stratospheric ozone filters out the ultraviolet (242 nm) radiation. There are ozone depleting substances. Examples: airbrush by operate gas, refrigerant gas, luminaire gas. If concentration of ozone decreases, then will be the 'ozone hole'. The ultraviolet radiation can cause sunburn and skin cancer.

Continue: Global warming

 

Oldal: Ozone in atmosphere
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