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Good Ozone
The stratosphere is the layer
of the atmosphere from 10 to 30 miles above sea level.
"The ozone
layer" refers to the ozone within stratosphere, where over 90% of the
earth's ozone resides. The ozone layer absorbs 97-99% of the sun's high
frequency ultraviolet light , light which is potentially damaging to life
on earth.
In the absence of this gaseous shield
in the stratosphere, the harmful radiation has a perfect portal through
which to strike Earth.
The amounts of "good" and "bad"
ozone in the atmosphere depend on a balance between processes that create
ozone and those that destroy it. An upset in the ozone balance can have
serious consequences for life on Earth. Scientists are finding evidence
that changes are occurring in ozone levels—the "bad" ozone is
increasing in the air we breathe, and the "good" ozone is
decreasing in our protective ozone shield.
NASA GSFC Graphic
Good
Ozone. Ozone occurs
naturally in the Earth’s upper atmosphere—10 to 30 miles above the
Earth’s surface—where it forms a protective layer that shields us from
the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. This beneficial ozone is gradually
being destroyed by manmade chemicals. An area where ozone has been
significantly depleted—for example, over the North or South pole—is
sometimes called a “hole in the ozone.” |
