THE ATMOSPHERE

The Atmosphere

The atmosphere is a mixture of nitrogen 
(78%), oxygen (21%), and other gases (1%) 
that surrounds Earth.
The Gases that Makeup the
Atmosphere
 Layers of the Atmosphere
• Troposphere
- Lowest Layer
- This is where we live
- 8 to 12 miles in height
- Weather occurs
- Temp decreases with height

• Stratosphere
Still would feel cold
- Second lowest layer
- Temp increases with height

- Ozone (03) layer

- Absorbs most of the
damaging ultraviolet sunlight
(UV-B)

• Mesosphere
- From ~30 to 53 miles up
- Temp decreases Ozone Layer
- Majority of meteors burn up

• Thermosphere
- Upper atmosphere 53 to
 The Ozone

The atmosphere surrounding the Earth contains a

small amount of ozone (O3), a gas with molecules
consisting of three oxygen atoms bound together,
instead of the two which form the normal oxygen
molecule (O2) that makes up 21% of the air we
breathe.
 Maintaining the Concentration
of Ozone in the Atmosphere
STEP 1
When an oxygen molecule receive a photon (h v), it dissociates into
monoatomic (reactive) atoms - a process called photodissociation.
These atoms attack an oxygen molecule to form ozone, O3.
O2 + h v  O + O
O2 + O  O3

STEP 2
The reaction requires a third molecule to take away the energy
associated with the free radical O and O2, and the reaction can be
represented by
O2 + O + M  O3 + M*
The over all reaction between oxygen and ozone formation is:
3 O2  2 O3
STEP 3
The absorption of UV B and C leads to the
destruction of ozone
O3 + h v  O + O2
O3 + O  2 O2
A dynamic equilibrium is established in these
reactions. The ozone concentration varies due to
the amount of radiation received from the sun.
 Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are nontoxic, nonflammable

chemicals containing atoms of carbon, chlorine, and
fluorine. They are used in the manufacture of aerosol
sprays, blowing agents for foams and packing materials, as
solvents, and as refrigerants.
How do CFCs Help Depleting
Ozone?
A relatively recent concern is the depletion of ozone, O3
due to the presence of chlorine in the troposphere, and
eventually their migration to the stratosphere. A major
source of chlorine is Freons: CFCl3 (Freon 11), CF2Cl2
(Freon 12), C2F3Cl3 (Freon 113), C2F4Cl2 (Freon 114).
Freons decompose in the troposphere. For example,

1. CFCl3  CFCl2 + Cl

2. CF2Cl3  CF2Cl + Cl.

The chlorine atoms catalyze the decomposition of ozone,
Cl + O3  ClO + O2

The ClO molecules further react with O generated due to

photochemical decomposition of ozone:
O3 + h v  O + O2,
ClO + O  Cl + O2
O + O3  O2 + O2.

The net result or reaction is 2 O3  3 O2 The chlorine atoms catalyze

the decomposition of ozone,
Effects of Ozone on Human Life
When enough ozone molecules are present, it forms a pale
blue gas. It is an unstable molecule that readily combines
with other atoms. Ozone has the same chemical structure
whether it is found in the stratosphere or the
troposphere.

In the troposphere, the ground-level or "bad" ozone is an

air pollutant that damages human health, vegetation, and
many common materials. It is a key ingredient of urban
smog. In the stratosphere, we find the "good" ozone that
protects life on earth from the harmful effects of the sun's
ultraviolet rays.
When enough ozone molecules are
present, it forms a pale blue gas. It is an
unstable molecule that readily combines
with other atoms. Ozone has the same
chemical structure whether it is found in
the stratosphere or the troposphere.

In the troposphere, the ground-level or

"bad" ozone is an air pollutant that
damages human health, vegetation, and
many common materials. It is a key
ingredient of urban smog. In the
stratosphere, we find the "good" ozone
that protects life on earth from the harmful
effects of the sun's ultraviolet rays.
 Ozone in the Troposphere
Tropospheric ozone is a short-lived climate pollutant with
an atmospheric lifetime of hours to weeks. It does not
have any direct emissions sources, rather it is a secondary
gas formed by the interaction of sunlight with
hydrocarbons – including methane – and nitrogen oxides,
which are emitted by vehicles, fossil fuel power plants, and
other man-made sources.

Strategies to prevent the formation of tropospheric ozone

are primarily based on methane reductions and cutting the
levels of atmospheric pollution arising from man-made
sources, such as agriculture and fossil fuel production and
distribution.
 Ozone in the Stratosphere
Ozone and oxygen molecules in the stratosphere absorb
ultraviolet light from the sun, providing a shield that
prevents this radiation from passing to the earth's surface.

While both oxygen and ozone together absorb 95 to 99.9%

of the sun's ultraviolet radiation, only ozone effectively
absorbs the most energetic ultraviolet light, known as UV-C
and UV-B, which causes biological damage.
 TO BE
CONTINUED…