Stratospheric Ozone Depletion NOTE: This is a resource module for teachers and students interested in the ozone layer. The NASA Advanced Supercomputing Division does not perform research directly related to the ozone and ozone depletion. For more information and to get answers to questions, see the following NASA websites: NASA
Goddard Institute for Space Studies - Atmospheric Chemistry Stratospheric ozone depletion is a concern because the ozone layer in the stratosphere keeps 95-99% of the suns ultraviolet radiation from striking the earth. In this file are:
Stratospheric ozone depletion is a concern because the ozone layer in the stratosphere keeps 95-99% of the suns ultraviolet radiation from striking the earth. A number of consequences can result from increased levels of UV(ultraviolet radiation) striking the earth, including: genetic damage, eye damage and damage to marine life. Increased UV radiation in the lower atmosphere, called the troposphere, can result in increased amounts of photochemical smog. Photochemical smog is already a health hazard in many of the world's largest cities. The decrease of stratospheric ozone was first reported in 1974 and the decrease was quickly linked to the increasing presence of a class of manmade compounds called CFC's or Chlorofluorocarbons. Many countries of the world have moved to reduce the use of CFC's but because of the slow rate of air mixing between the lower and upper atmosphere it is theorized that stratospheric CFC's will stay at a significant level well into the next century. Stratospheric ozone depletion has become very much a controversial political and economic issue as well as a complex scientific issue. Major and minor sources of chlorine, and factors which affect ozone levels are still being sorted out among a great deal of media-generated excitement and misinformation; but the link between CFC's and Ozone depletion, and the major factors creating the antarctic ozone hole, are considered by most researchers to be well established facts. Scientific models of the atmosphere are being constructed in order to assist scientists in looking for other factors in Ozone depletion, evaluate their importance and predict what may happen to our atmosphere in the future. **This file may be copied, distributed and archived but all copies must include this caveat as well. Caveat: This document is a compilation of information from a number of sources, with the gracious assistance of NASA and the IISME program, but does not necessarily reflect their views and definitely does not reflect the breadth of their knowledge. I am solely responsible for what is written here, including errors. Students should note that since this is not a peer reviewed publication, it should not be used as a reference for science projects; instead all scientifc facts and data should be referenced back to the original authors.
| ||||||
|