Our Earth's atmosphere is divided into several layers.
troposphere, extends from the Earth's surface up to 10 kilometers in altitude. All human.
activity occurs in the troposphere. The next layer, the stratosphere, continues from the.
end of the troposphere to about 50km. Most air traffic occurs in the stratosphere. .
Ozone is a tri-atomic allotrope of oxygen that accounts for the distinctive odor.
after a thunderstorm or around electrical equipment. The odor of ozone around electrical.
machines was reported as early as 1785, and ozone's chemical make-up was determined.
in 1872. Ozone is an irritating, pale blue gas that is explosive and toxic, even at low.
concentrations. Ozone is 1.5 times as dense as oxygen. At -112 degrees Celsius, it.
condenses into a dark blue liquid, which freezes at -412 degrees Celsius. Ozone is an.
extremely powerful oxidizing agent. It is used commercially as a bleaching agent and as a.
strong germicide used to sterilize drinking water as well as to remove objectional odors.
and flavors. .
Most atmospheric ozone is concentrated in the stratosphere, about 15-30km above.
the Earth's surface. Ozone is a molecule containing three oxygen atoms. The oxygen that.
we breathe has only two oxygen atoms and no color or odor. Ozone occurs far less than.
oxygen, of every ten million air molecules, two million are normal oxygen and only three.
are ozone. The small amount of ozone plays an important role in the atmosphere. The.
ozone layer absorbs radiation from the sun, preventing it from reaching Earth's surface. It.
more importantly absorbs UVB ultraviolet light. UVB causes skin cancer, cataracts, can.
harm some kinds of farm plants, certain materials, and some forms of sea creatures. .
At any given time ozone molecules are created and destroyed in the stratosphere.
The total amount of ozone stays at a stable level. The best way to describe it is to.
compare a stream's depth at a particular location, water constantly moves in and out, but.
