Above Our Heads
In which layer of the atmosphere is the ozone layer primarily located?
What is the stratosphere?
What group of chemicals is most responsible for stratospheric ozone depletion?
What is Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
What type of ultraviolet radiation is most absorbed by the ozone layer?
What is UV-B radiation?
Increased UV-B exposure is linked to higher rates of what major disease?
What is Skin Cancer.
What international agreement was created to address ozone depletion?
What is The Montreal Protocol (1987)
How does ozone form naturally in the stratosphere?
What is…
UV radiation splits O₂ molecules, allowing free oxygen atoms to combine with O₂ to form ozone?
Name one common product that historically contained CFCs.
What is…
Aerosol sprays, refrigerators, air conditioners, or foam insulation.
What happens to UV radiation levels at Earth’s surface when the ozone layer thins?
What is UV radiation levels increase.
Name one non-cancer health effect caused by increased UV exposure.
What is…
Cataracts, eye damage, or sunburn.
About what percentage of ozone-depleting substances have been phased out globally?
What is 99%?
Why is ozone considered beneficial in the stratosphere but harmful in the troposphere?
What is…
the stratosphere it absorbs UV radiation while the troposphere it is an air pollutant that harms respiratory health.
Why are CFCs able to reach the stratosphere without breaking down earlier?
What is chemical stability?
(They are chemically stable in the troposphere.)
Ozone depletion caused ozone levels to drop by up to what percentage in some areas?
What is 70%?
Why is damage to phytoplankton especially dangerous for ecosystems?
What is…
It damages DNA and reduces photosynthesis effecting Phytoplankton form the base of marine food webs and produce oxygen.
Why is continued monitoring of the ozone layer still necessary today?
What is recovery is incomplete?
(Illegal CFC production still exist and climate change affects ozone chemistry).