Good Up High
1. How can ozone be both good and bad?
Ozone is harmful to humans and other organisms because it makes it difficult to breathe and it also damages crops, vegetation and trees. All negative aspects occur in the lowest atmospheric layer closet to Earth being the Troposphere. Ozone is considered good when in the stratosphere because it protects us from harmful UV (ultra violet) radiation light rays from the sun.
2. What is happening to the “good” ozone layer?
The ozone is being destroyed by man-made chemicals called ozone-depleting chemicals. This includes things like HCFCs, CFCs, halons and methyl chloroform.
3. How much damage can 1 Chlorine atom do? Explain.
A single chlorine atom can destroy up to 100,000 ozone molecules in the stratosphere.
4. How does the “good” ozone protect the Earth?
The ''good'' ozone protects the earth from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays.
5. What is being done about ozone depletion?
The United States along with 180 other countries have come together to adopt the Montreal Protocol treaty in 1987. This phases out production of ozone depleting substances along with the EPA of the U.S where other standards are set.
Bad Nearby
1. What causes “bad” ozone?
Bad ozone is caused by chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds in the presence of sunlight.
2. What are some sources of bad ozone?
Emissions from industrial facilities and electric utilities, motor vehicle exhaust, gasoline vapors, and chemical solvents
3. How does “bad” ozone affect human health and environment?
'Bad'' ozone can trigger chest pain, coughing, throat irritation and congestion. It can worsen bronchitis, emphysema and asthma. It can reduce lung function and inflame lining of lungs. It damages vegetation and ecosystems by reducing agricultural crop and commercial forest yields, reduced growth of tree seedlings and increased susceptibility to diseases, pests and weather.
4. What is being done about “bad” ozone?
EPA has set protective health based standards under the clean air act and has stated to institute variety of programs within cities to meet these standards.
5. What can we do/actions can we take to reduce our risks?
Using energy efficient products, limit outdoor activities from 10 am to 4 pm while the sun is most intense, and use wise garden chemicals in your yard.
Ozone - Air Now
1. Where is the good ozone located and what is its function?
The good ozone is located in the stratosphere, 6-30 miles above Earth's surface. Its function is to protect people and the Earth from the sun's harmful UV rays.
2. What depletes good ozone?
Man made chemicals (ODS).
3. Where is the bad ozone located and what creates it? What does NOX and VOC stand for?
The Bad ozone is located at ground-level. NOX means oxides of nitrogen and VOC is for volatile organic compounds.
4. List three health problems associated with bad ozone.
5. Scroll down to the Air Quality Index Color Chart - Write down a one-word descriptor of each color code.
Green - Good
Yellow - Moderate
Orange - Harmful
Red - Unhealthy
Purple - Hazardous
6. What is the current ozone reading for our area?
Moderate
The AQI for Students
How Ozone is Formed
Which set of conditions produce the best possible scenario for the city?
When the weather is sunny, with cloud sky cover, when temperature is high, when there are less cars and trucks, low population and less off road transportation
Which set of conditions produce the worst scenario for the people, animals and plants of Smog City?
When the weather is cloudy, when there are lots of cars, trucks and planes, high population and high industry
1. How can ozone be both good and bad?
Ozone is harmful to humans and other organisms because it makes it difficult to breathe and it also damages crops, vegetation and trees. All negative aspects occur in the lowest atmospheric layer closet to Earth being the Troposphere. Ozone is considered good when in the stratosphere because it protects us from harmful UV (ultra violet) radiation light rays from the sun.
2. What is happening to the “good” ozone layer?
The ozone is being destroyed by man-made chemicals called ozone-depleting chemicals. This includes things like HCFCs, CFCs, halons and methyl chloroform.
3. How much damage can 1 Chlorine atom do? Explain.
A single chlorine atom can destroy up to 100,000 ozone molecules in the stratosphere.
4. How does the “good” ozone protect the Earth?
The ''good'' ozone protects the earth from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays.
5. What is being done about ozone depletion?
The United States along with 180 other countries have come together to adopt the Montreal Protocol treaty in 1987. This phases out production of ozone depleting substances along with the EPA of the U.S where other standards are set.
Bad Nearby
1. What causes “bad” ozone?
Bad ozone is caused by chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds in the presence of sunlight.
2. What are some sources of bad ozone?
Emissions from industrial facilities and electric utilities, motor vehicle exhaust, gasoline vapors, and chemical solvents
3. How does “bad” ozone affect human health and environment?
'Bad'' ozone can trigger chest pain, coughing, throat irritation and congestion. It can worsen bronchitis, emphysema and asthma. It can reduce lung function and inflame lining of lungs. It damages vegetation and ecosystems by reducing agricultural crop and commercial forest yields, reduced growth of tree seedlings and increased susceptibility to diseases, pests and weather.
4. What is being done about “bad” ozone?
EPA has set protective health based standards under the clean air act and has stated to institute variety of programs within cities to meet these standards.
5. What can we do/actions can we take to reduce our risks?
Using energy efficient products, limit outdoor activities from 10 am to 4 pm while the sun is most intense, and use wise garden chemicals in your yard.
Ozone - Air Now
1. Where is the good ozone located and what is its function?
The good ozone is located in the stratosphere, 6-30 miles above Earth's surface. Its function is to protect people and the Earth from the sun's harmful UV rays.
2. What depletes good ozone?
Man made chemicals (ODS).
3. Where is the bad ozone located and what creates it? What does NOX and VOC stand for?
The Bad ozone is located at ground-level. NOX means oxides of nitrogen and VOC is for volatile organic compounds.
4. List three health problems associated with bad ozone.
- Irritating respiratory system
- Inflaming lining of lungs
- Damaging lung function
5. Scroll down to the Air Quality Index Color Chart - Write down a one-word descriptor of each color code.
Green - Good
Yellow - Moderate
Orange - Harmful
Red - Unhealthy
Purple - Hazardous
6. What is the current ozone reading for our area?
Moderate
The AQI for Students
How Ozone is Formed
- Ozone is created from Nitrogen Oxides and Volatile Organic Compounds.
- The NOX and VOCs comes from factories, power plants, cars and trucks
- When NOX and VOCs mix in the presence of sunlight, ozone is formed.
- Layer closest to Earth's surface is the trophosphere, extending to a level about 6 miles up, meeting the stratosphere
- Ozone is harmful for humans to breathe, and can cause chest pain, coughing, throat irritation and congestion
- It can worsen asthma, bronchitis and emphysema
- Ground level ozone damages crops, trees and other vegetation
- Main ingredient of urban smog
- Stratosphere extends about 6-30 miles
- The ozone layer at the stratosphere blocks the sun's harmful UV rays
- Increased UV can lead to skin cancer, cataracts, reduce crop yields and damage sensitive crops
- More clouds: Unhealthy>Unhealthy for sensitive groups
- No inversion: Unhealthy>Unhealthy for sensitive groups
- More inversion: good>moderate
- Lots of wind: Unhealthy>moderate, unhealthy for sensitive groups>good
- Temperature cooler: unhealthy
- High temp:good
- Energy source non-renewable: moderate
- Renewable: good
- Less cars: unhealthy>moderate
- Off road: unhealthy
Which set of conditions produce the best possible scenario for the city?
When the weather is sunny, with cloud sky cover, when temperature is high, when there are less cars and trucks, low population and less off road transportation
Which set of conditions produce the worst scenario for the people, animals and plants of Smog City?
When the weather is cloudy, when there are lots of cars, trucks and planes, high population and high industry