Ozone in the Stratosphere

• Ozone in the boundary layer causes adverse health effects
• Ozone in the stratosphere, however, in necessary for our survival
  • absorbs UV radiation before it reaches the ground
  • maximum concentrations of about 12 ppm are at about 25 km AGL

Anticipated health effects due to ozone layer depletion:

• increase in skin cancer cases
• increase in eye cataracts and sun burns
• suppression of the human immune system
• an adverse impact on crops and animals due to increased UV radiation reaching the ground
• reduction in the growth of ocean phytoplankton
• cooling of the stratosphere that could alter stratospheric wind patterns, possibly affecting the production (and destruction) of ozone.