ozone as our friend and foe
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Answer:
OZONE FRIEND OR FOE.
The ozone layer protects all life on Earth, but it's frustrating scientists' attempts to curb global warming. Take geoengineering: Researchers have proposed that injecting sulfur particles into the stratosphere might counter the effects of greenhouse gas buildup, but a new study suggests that the approach could thin the planet's already fragile ozone layer. Leaving the ozone layer alone comes with its own risks, however. A second study warns that the gradual recovery of the Antarctic ozone hole could speed the continent's warming.
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Answer:
Ozone is a gas that occurs naturally in very, very small amounts in the Earth's atmosphere. But human beings make extra ozone every day. Ground-level ozone is formed when exhaust from cars, trucks, factories and lawn mowers interact with sunlight, especially in the late spring and summer. When ozone is close to the ground, it can irritate lungs and trigger asthma attacks. Some communities offer free bus rides, encourage carpooling and ask people to wait until evening to mow lawns or fill gas tanks on high ozone days.
But we wouldn't want to get rid of ozone entirely. Ozone is our protection from the Sun's ultraviolet (UV) light, which can cause sunburn, skin cancer and eye damage. High in the atmosphere, about 25 kilometers (15 miles) above the Earth, ozone serves as a protective layer that absorbs harmful UV light.
Certain materials, such as those used in air conditioners, refrigerators and spray cans, can damage the ozone layer. Each fall, the results are visible over Antarctica, where an area of decreased ozone forms. Because this "ozone hole" has so little ozone, it allows lots of UV light to leak through.
Ozone hole
Image above: View of the South Pole from NASA's TOMS (Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer) satellite. Blue and green indicate relatively large amounts of ozone. Red and yellow mark the "ozone hole," an area of decreased ozone. Credit: NASA
NASA is about to launch a new satellite into orbit around Earth to measure ozone. Called "Aura," the satellite will also measure many other gases, as well as smoke and dust in both the lower and upper atmosphere. It will also be able to measure and track chemicals that produce ozone.
World leaders have agreed to work together to limit the amount of ozone-depleting substances that enter the upper atmosphere. You can reduce the amount of ground-level ozone by walking, riding a bike, taking public transportation or carpooling. By lowering the number of automobiles on the road, we can decrease the amount of pollution in our air.
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