Ozone is a molecule composed of three oxygen atoms (O3) and is a crucial component of the Earth’s atmosphere. It exists primarily in two layers of the atmosphere: near the surface, where it is a pollutant and a key component of smog, and in the stratosphere, where it forms the ozone layer, which protects life on Earth by absorbing the majority of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation. The stratospheric ozone layer is located approximately 10 to 30 miles above the Earth’s surface and is critical for maintaining the environmental and health safety of the planet. However, human activities have led to the depletion of this layer, notably through the emission of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other ozone-depleting chemicals. The recognition of the damaging effects of ozone depletion led to international agreements such as the Montreal Protocol, which has successfully curbed the release of the most harmful substances. At ground level, ozone emerges as a secondary pollutant formed by the reaction of sunlight with pollutants like volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides, impacting human health and the environment.
Research reveals that wildfires can significantly affect the stratosphere’s ozone layer by injecting aerosols that alter ozone levels through complex reactions, underlining the necessity for…
Recent findings indicate significant reductions in hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), harmful to both the ozone layer and climate. This success, stemming from the Montreal Protocol, shows that…
When internet-providing satellites — now being launched by the thousands — reach the end of their service life, the remnants from their incineration in Earth’s…
New research indicates a decline in hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) in the atmosphere, confirming the effectiveness of the Montreal Protocol in regulating substances that harm the ozone…
A new study reveals the Antarctic ozone hole is larger and more enduring than thought, with complex factors beyond CFCs contributing to its persistence and…
The Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite has detected one of the largest ozone holes over Antarctica, possibly influenced by the 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption. Despite historic…
In the 1980s, scientists discovered a gaping hole in Earth’s ozone layer, caused by humanmade chemicals. But thanks to the historical Montreal Protocol, the world…
Smoke Particles From Wildfires Can Erode the Ozone Layer MIT chemists show the Australian wildfires widened the ozone hole by 10 percent in 2020. A…
The ozone levels near the surface in urban areas are lower than anticipated. The 40-meter monitoring tower at the Innsbruck Atmospheric Observatory, located near the…
The depleted area of the ozone layer over the South Pole was slightly smaller than last year and generally continued the overall shrinking trend of…
Many people are aware of the hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica, but what is less widely known is that the protective ozone in…
A new NASA climate simulation suggests that extremely large volcanic eruptions called “flood basalt eruptions” could significantly warm Earth’s climate and devastate the ozone layer…
Air pollution heating up the Southern Ocean. According to new research, a lesser-known form of ozone is playing a significant role in heating the Southern…
Ozone in the atmosphere found to have weakened one of Earth’s main cooling mechanisms. According to new research, ozone may be weakening one of the…
If wildfires become larger and more frequent, they might stall ozone recovery for years. The Australian wildfires in 2019 and 2020 were historic for how…
New CU Boulder study shows iodine from desert dust can decrease ozone air pollution but could prolong greenhouse gas lifetimes. When winds loft fine desert…
Ozone 101 is the first in a series of explainer videos outlining the fundamentals of popular Earth science topics. Let’s back up to the basics…
The 2021 Antarctic ozone hole reached its maximum area on October 7 and ranks 13th-largest since 1979, scientists from NASA and NOAA reported on October…