Ozone :: Ozone Layer Oxygen Environmental Essays

OzoneOzone (O3) is a molecule consisting of trey type O atoms, similar to the oxygenwe breathe (O2), however oxygen consists of except two oxygen atoms. In thestratosphere, a region high up in the upper atmosphere, light rays areresponsible for the breaking consume of oxygen (O2), breathable oxygen into its twoseparate oxygen atoms. Lone oxygen atoms are markedly reactive. When a loneoxygen atom go fars into accomplish with a breathable oxygen molecule (O2) itcombines to form ozone (O3). The ozone level is a low residual amount ofozone concentrated in a band in the upper atmosphere. This band of concentratedozone resides approximately between twenty and 40 kilometers high in thestratosphere. The ozone layer reactions that both create and destroy ozone hascome into a dynamic equilibrium. This dynamic equilibrium is very delicate andresulted during atmospheric formation (Environment Canada, 1996). Ozone, however,is very rare even in the ozone layer. Oxygen makes up approximat ely twentypercent of air and ozone makes up only 3 x 10-5 percent of air. Furthermore,this minuscule amount of ozone is enough to protect the terra firma from more or lessultraviolet light. Ozone prevents most UV-B radiation from reaching the surfaceof the ground (Environment Canada, 1996). Ozone is very important to life onearth because the harmfulness of high-power UV-B radiation stems from the highenergy of these light rays, enabling them to penetrate deeply into water, planttissue and epidermal tissue of animals. Increased UV-B radiation results inharming the metabolic system of cells and ultimately damage to genetic material limn in effected cells. Living organisms on the surface of the earth get hold ofalways been exposed to some, and only slightly differing levels of UV-Bradiation depending of geographic hole and season. Through evolution,cellular repair mechanisms bedevil evolved to safeguard cells against damage makeby UV-B radiation. With the increase in the UV-B r adiation, more damage is doneto cellular functions then the natural protection system can deal with(Environment Canada, 1996). sprightliness on earth would more or less be forefend if not forthe formation of the ozone layer during atmospheric formation (Porter, 1996).With out the ozone layer the harmful UV-B radiation would not allow the growthof autotrophic plants, resulting in reduction in oxygen production ultimatelythe destruction of most living organisms on the earth surface would result.Increased UV-B radiation has been conjugated to many incidence of increased healthproblems among humans. UV-B radiation leads to increase hide cancer, eye damage,and possible inhibition of the immune system (Health Canada). These incidencehave been noticed in humans, and it is presumed that these problems will occur