Saving the Ozone Layer: Every Action Counts

pounds, which react with sunlight to form ozone. This ground-level
ozone is a component of urban smog and can cause respiratory
problems in humans and damage to plants.
There is little connection between ground-level ozone and the stratospheric
ozone layer. Whereas stratospheric ozone shields the Earth
from the Sun’s harmful rays, ground-level ozone is a pollutant. Though
the downward movement of ozone-rich air from the stratosphere contributes
to ground-level ozone, very little is transported upwards, so
ozone formed due to pollution at the Earth’s surface cannot replenish
the ozone layer. In addition, though ground-level ozone absorbs
some ultraviolet radiation, the effect is very limited.
Discussion points
- The different parts of the atmosphere and the location
of the ozone layer
- The natural creation and destruction of ozone in
the stratosphere
- Why ozone depletion will increase the levels of damaging ultraviolet
radiation (UV-B) reaching the Earth’s surface
- The difference between stratospheric and ground-level ozone
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Saving the Ozone Layer: Every Action Counts