How do chemicals affect the ozone layer?
How do chemicals affect the ozone layer?
When chlorine and bromine atoms come into contact with ozone in the stratosphere, they destroy ozone molecules. One chlorine atom can destroy over 100,000 ozone molecules before it is removed from the stratosphere. Ozone can be destroyed more quickly than it is naturally created.
What does ozone do when it is in the lower stratosphere?
Absorption of UV-B by ozone in the stratosphere reduces the amount of UV-B reaching the earth’s surface and also generates heat that plays a role in maintaining the temperature structure of the atmosphere.
How is ozone formed in the atmosphere What is the cause of ozone layer depletion?
The main cause of ozone depletion and the ozone hole is manufactured chemicals, especially manufactured halocarbon refrigerants, solvents, propellants, and foam- blowing agents (chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), HCFCs, halons), referred to as ozone-depleting substances (ODS).
Why ozone layer is depleted?
Ozone depletion occurs when chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons—gases formerly found in aerosol spray cans and refrigerants—are released into the atmosphere (see details below). CFCs and halons cause chemical reactions that break down ozone molecules, reducing ozone’s ultraviolet radiation-absorbing capacity.
How high up is the thermosphere?
600 kilometers
Why is thermosphere the hottest layer?
The thermosphere and the exosphere together form the upper atmosphere. Because there are relatively few molecules and atoms in the thermosphere, even absorbing small amounts of solar energy can significantly increase the air temperature, making the thermosphere the hottest layer in the atmosphere.
Is the thermosphere well mixed?
The gases in the lower layers of Earth’s atmosphere (the troposphere, stratosphere, and mesosphere) are well-mixed, and the density of each different type of gas (nitrogen, oxygen, etc.) This means that the density of each constituent varies at a different rate as altitude increases. …
What flew in the thermosphere before it was grounded?
E. The thermosphere contains a layer of charged particles called the ionospherewhich makes communication by radio wavespossible and is home to theaurora borealis(Northern Lights). This is the layer in which flew before it was grounded within the last decade..
How do we use the atmosphere today?
The atmosphere protects life on earth by shielding it from incoming ultraviolet (UV) radiation, keeping the planet warm through insulation, and preventing extremes between day and night temperatures. The sun heats layers of the atmosphere causing it to convect driving air movement and weather patterns around the world.
What is the boundary between the mesosphere and thermosphere called?
The boundary between the mesosphere and the thermosphere above it is called the mesopause. At the bottom of the mesosphere is the stratopause, the boundary between the mesosphere and the stratosphere below.
What two things can fly in the stratosphere?
Air is roughly a thousand times thinner at the top of the stratosphere than it is at sea level. Because of this, jet aircraft and weather balloons reach their maximum operational altitudes within the stratosphere.
Can birds fly in the stratosphere?
The stratosphere contains roughly 20 percent of the atmosphere’s mass. Because bacterial life can survive in the stratosphere, this layer of the atmosphere belongs to the biosphere. Some species of birds have even been reported to fly in the lower levels of the stratosphere.
Do planes fly in the tropopause?
The troposphere is the lowest level of Earth’s atmosphere. Commercial jets can certainly fly above or below the troposphere, but this layer of the atmosphere offers ideal flying conditions for several reasons. First, the troposphere produces minimal drag or resistance for commercial jets.
Do pilots sleep while flying?
The simple answer is yes, pilots do and are allowed to sleep during flight but there are strict rules controlling this practice. Pilots would only normally sleep on long haul flights, although sleep on short haul flights is permitted to avoid the effects of fatigue.
Can you breathe at 35000 feet?
Whether you are flying aboard a small Cessna or a jumbo-sized Airbus A380, you can breathe freely inside the cabin without wearing a mask or respirator. Even at a cruising altitude of 35,000 feet, you shouldn’t have trouble breathing.