Table of Contents
What is ozone and why is it both beneficial and harmful to life on Earth?
Stratospheric ozone is “good” because it protects living things from ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Ground-level ozone, the topic of this website, is “bad” because it can trigger a variety of health problems, particularly for children, the elderly, and people of all ages who have lung diseases such as asthma.
Where is ozone helpful and harmful?
stratosphere
The stratosphere or “good” ozone layer extends upward from about 6 to 30 miles and protects life on Earth from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.
At what time of day is ozone pollution the most harmful?
Ozone is the principal component of the mixture of air pollutants known as “smog” that is produced from the action of sunlight on air contaminants from automobile exhausts and other sources. Ozone levels are most likely to be elevated after noon through early evening on hot, sunny days.
Is ozone always beneficial to life?
Ozone can be “good” or “bad” for health and the environment depending on where it’s found in the atmosphere. Stratospheric ozone is “good” because it protects living things from ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
How is ozone layer useful to us?
The ozone layer acts as an invisible shield and protects us from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. In particular, the ozone layer protects us from the UV radiation, known as UV-B, which causes sunburn.
Which of the following best describes the importance of ozone in the stratosphere to life on Earth?
Which of the following best describes the importance of ozone in the stratosphere to life on Earth? Ozone absorbs most of the ultraviolet radiation from the Sun.
How does the ozone layer affect life on Earth quizlet?
It keeps a low level of harmful ultraviolet radiation from reaching living organisms.
Why does ozone peak in the afternoon?
Unlike most other air pollutants, ozone is not directly emitted into the air. Typically, ozone levels reach their peak in mid to late afternoon, after exhaust fumes from morning rush hour have had time to react in sunlight. A hot, sunny, still day is the perfect environment for the production of ozone pollution.
Where is ozone gas helpful to life?
Most ozone resides in the stratosphere (a layer of the atmosphere between 10 and 40 km above us), where it acts as a shield to protect Earth’s surface from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation. With a weakening of this shield, we would be more susceptible to skin cancer, cataracts and impaired immune systems.