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Ozone is a molecule made of three of oxygen atoms with the formula O3. Ozone is a reactive oxidant gas produced naturally in trace amounts in Earth’s atmosphere. However the location of it within the atmosphere is crucial. In the troposphere (the atmospheric layer closest to Earth's surface), it can be harmful to humans. In the stratosphere (the atmospheric layer above the troposphere) it is vital in protecting the Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation. Ozone in the stratosphere can be referred to as the "ozone layer".[1] Because ozone functions differently in different parts of the atmosphere, its use in conversation can be ambiguous:

Figure 1: Diagram of ozone in different regions in the atmosphere. Ozone in the upper atmosphere protects from ultraviolet radiation, while ozone in the lower atmosphere acts as a greenhouse gas and can be harmful to human health.[2]

Stratospheric Ozone

Most of Earth’s atmospheric ozone (about 90%) is found in the stratosphere where it plays a critical role in absorbing ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun. The levels of stratospheric ozone are very important and a thinning ozone layer can cause problems. The thinning of naturally occurring ozone at the poles (commonly known as the "ozone hole") is due to photochemical reactions with chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons. A reduction in stratospheric ozone leads to increased levels of UV-B radiation at the ground, which can lead to increased risks of skin cancer. Recovering levels of ozone in the upper atmosphere (repairing the hole in the ozone layer) is a good thing, which is the opposite of increasing the levels of ozone in the lower atmosphere.[1]

Tropospheric Ozone

Within the last 70 years, it was realized that anthropogenic emissions could lead to ozone increases in the troposphere. Tropospheric ozone is considered an air pollutant as it causes respiratory effects in humans and impairs plant growth. Ozone in the lower atmosphere is mostly produced by photochemical reactions involving volatile organic compounds and oxides of nitrogen. These compounds have natural sources like vegetation, wildfires, and lightning, and anthropogenic sources such as fossil fuel combustion and human-caused biomass burning. Tropospheric ozone is also an important greenhouse gas contributing to global warming.[1] For more information about ozone in the lower atmosphere, visit the page on ground level ozone.

For Further Reading

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Seinfeld, John H, and Pandis, Spyros N. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, 2016.
  2. "Ozone Trends," ETH Zurich: Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://iac.ethz.ch/group/atmospheric-chemistry/research/ozone-trends.html. [Accessed: 18-May-2021]