In six pages the ozone layer is examined in a discussion of its Earth significance and considers how the depletion is taking place. Ten sources are cited in the bibliography.
Name of Research Paper File: CC6_KSozoneDeplet.rtf
Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
ozone (O3) is a naturally-occurring substance in the Earths atmosphere, the debate surrounding whether it is increasing or decreasing superficially seems to be little more than an academic exercise, or
alternatively something for militant environmentalists to champion. However, ozone in the atmosphere is analogous to iron, manganese or some other trace element necessary for plant growth. Neither system
needs much of the required substance, but function is impaired without it, and some systems will not be able to survive without it.
There is confusion over ozone, likely because when it is at ground level, it is a pollutant and carries a negative connotation. It is the ozone layer of the
outer atmosphere that constitutes the beneficial ozone, and it is that layer that needs to be protected. The purpose here is to investigate changes in the ozone layer and
to assess current conditions. What It Is In the same manner as trace elements are found in plant cells, so is the concentration
of ozone to diatomic oxygen (O2) heavily skewed in equilibrium concentration. When both O2 and O3 are present in "natural" concentrations, the ratio of O2 to O3 is approximately
2,000,000:3 (Case study for the 4th year). While O2 is odorless and colorless, "ozone has a strong scent and is blue in color" (Case study for the 4th year).
The ozone layer, which is about ten miles above the Earths surface in the stratosphere, does more than only provide us with glorious blue skies. It also protects
us from many of those portions of the suns rays that are harmful at the Earths surface. The stratosphere is the outermost layer