The Atmosphere

On to the next order of business...
The Atmosphere!


The Atmosphere- is a layer of gases surrounding the planet of Earth that is retained by the Earth's gravity. Now as boring as that may seem to be... it really is something we depend on the atmosphere protects life on the earth (US!) its absorbing the ultrviolet solar radiation, and warming the surface though the heat (which many know as the greenhouse effect), its reducing the temperature extremes between day and night.

This is a picture of the Atmosphere, Colours roughly denote the layers of the atmosphere.
Learn more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere_of_Earth


Okay so now I will try my best to tell you about the OZONE LAYER...
There was a lot of talk about it a few years ago, but it has died down since then.

Ozone is a gas naturally present in the atmosphere, but in very low quantities. It is colorless and has a very strong odor that gave it its name (from Greek ozein, odor). About 90% of the atmospheric ozone is located in the stratosphere (region between an altitude of about 10 and 50 km) and comprises what one calls the ozone layer. It absorbs a large part of ultraviolent rays which are very dangerous in heavy doses, and thus protects life on Earth.
(This info was found on http://www.goodplanet.info/eng/Pollution/Ozone/The-Ozone/(theme)/309 to read more check it out)
The rate at which ozone is being destroyed in the upper stratosphere is slowing, and the levels of ozone-destroying chlorine in that layer of the atmosphere have peaked and are going down.
Ozone is a damaging pollutant in the lower atmosphere near the ground, but in the stratosphere, it shields the Earth from harmful ultraviolet solar radiation. Almost 30 years ago, scientists Mario Molina, F. Sherwood Rowland, and Paul Crutzen showed that chlorine released into the stratosphere from chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), chemicals used as refrigerants and aerosol propellants, was destroying the protective ozone layer. This discovery led to an international ban on CFC-based products and to the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the three scientists.
(This info came from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/07/030730080139.htm get the whole story there.)

Here's a picture that explains the ozone layer a bit.

 

The ozone layer is hugely important and we should be careful and aware of it.

But... if it was such a huge and important issue wouldn't it still be on the news and we would still be hearing about it??? Good question with no clear answer. Keep aware of the ozone layer, try to take care of our earth, but don't freak out. Just figure out how you want to help.