Stratospheric Ozone Depletion

Flashcards about different aspects of Stratospheric Ozone Depletion.

What percentage of the atmosphere's ozone is contained in the stratosphere?

Approximately 97%

Where is most ozone formed?

Over the tropics

How does ozone layer thickness vary by season?

It is thicker in the spring and thinner in the fall.

What happens when ultraviolet radiation (UV) strikes an oxygen molecule?

It creates atomic oxygen (O2 + UV -> O + 0)

What are the three forms of ultraviolet radiation?

UVA, UVB, and UVC

List the three Ultraviolet Radiation forms in order of increasing energy

UVA, UVB, and UVC

What is UVA radiation commonly associated with?

Skin tanning

What are some organisms that can see UVA radiation?

Birds, reptiles, and bees

What effects are caused by UVB radiation?

Blistering sunburns and skin cancer

Where is UVC radiation found, and what is its primary role?

In the stratosphere, largely responsible for ozone formation

When and where was the thinning of the ozone layer first discovered?

Over Antarctica in 1986

What is the primary cause of ozone layer degradation?

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halocarbons (halons)

How does atomic chlorine prevent ozone formation?

By sequestering oxygen atoms to form chlorine monoxide (ClO)

What are halocarbons (halons)?

Organic chemical molecules composed of at least one carbon atom with one or more halogen atoms (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine)

What are some of the effects of ozone depletion?

Reduction in crop production, reduced immune system effectiveness, decreased phytoplankton growth, climatic changes, deleterious effects on animals, increased cataracts, mutations, skin cancer, and sunburns