Ozone is a gas made up of three atoms of oxygen and occurs in both Earth’s upper atmosphere and at ground level. It can be good or bad for us depending on where it is found. When in or above the stratosphere (the higher atmosphere that ranges from 5 to 11 miles up), ozone forms a crucial sunscreen – the ozone layer – that protects us from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the Sun. But ozone can also act as a pollutant at ground level, formed when pollution (say from cars) reacts with sunlight. A main ingredient of smog is ozone, which burns the lungs when breathed in and can trigger asthma attacks. NASA monitors the ozone layer and lower-level ozone using satellites and instruments on planes and on the ground.
Posted on: Tue, 22 Jul 2014 17:32:10 +0000
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