9781422272480

the contributing factors toward the development of smog or haze in areas where there is a lot of air pollution. Studying the Ozone Layer The ozone layer is considered to be a part of the stratosphere. This thin strata is located around 6–30 miles (9.6 to 48.2 km) above the surface of the earth. It is comprised of trace gases that absorb most of the radiation from the sun that hits our planet. While part of this radiation is what gives us the light and warm temperatures necessary to stay alive, in large doses, it can be harmful. One type of radiation that the ozone layer protects us from is known as UV (ultraviolet) light . Too much UV light can break through the protective layers of living organisms (such as skin), causing damage to the DNA molecules existing within animals

Look at this ozone hole as seen from space! The hole forms when UV light destroys a section of the stratosphere.

14

The New Weather: The Climate System