What
is ozone? Ozone
is a layer of many gases in the upper stratosphere that shields the earth
from the dangerous effects of concentrated ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
It extends anywhere from 27 mi (44 km) to 33 mi
(56 km) above the earth's surface. In the
ozone layer, stable oxygen molecules (O2= two atoms
of oxygen) absorb high-energy UVC
rays and split into two oxygen atoms (O). These
individual atoms combine with other O2 molecules
to form unstable ozone molecules (O3), which in
turn are split by UVC
and UVB
rays. These fragments then produce more O2
or O3 and the cycle continues.
What
is ozone? Ozone
is a layer of many gases in the upper stratosphere that shields the earth
from the dangerous effects of concentrated ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
It extends anywhere from 27 mi (44 km) to 33 mi
(56 km) above the earth's surface. In the
ozone layer, stable oxygen molecules (O2= two atoms
of oxygen) absorb high-energy