Chapter 2. Chapter 2: Science Literacy and the Process of Science

Why is ozone in the stratosphere beneficial to life...

Interactive Study Guide
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Guiding Question 2.3

Why is ozone in the stratosphere beneficial to life on Earth, and how is it being depleted? What is the evidence that ozone depletion might be harmful to the health of humans or other organisms?

Why You Should Care

Because ultraviolet radiation has more energy than visible light, it can cause chemical changes in some molecules; sun fading, for example, happens because UV radiation can break down pigment molecules. UV radiation can also affect biological molecules like proteins and DNA. Suntans, in fact, are the body’s response to excessive genetic damage from UV exposure. Sunscreens work by absorbing UV radiation before it can cause damage to skin cells.

Just like sunscreen, ozone in the stratosphere can absorb the energy from UV radiation and dissipate it before it reaches the Earth. The depletion of ozone from its interaction with human-made CFCs is cause for concern because it is allowing more UV radiation to pass through. Since the genetic damage UV radiation causes may lead to cancer, there is concern that rates of skin cancer will increase globally.

Question Test Your Vocabulary

Choose the correct term for each of the following definitions:

Term Definition
Hk9nF31VrQk973nsegBpNHWmONSyLziGkvrOMrDUPpd1Skww+rXhOo4QXAj/C7sX9fCDVC+XSWInR2MPWcHstHmo9TbHPm3eHaWpn+iIh9t39S0rMVH8UFiwO6+NNwEe Blanket of gases that surrounds Earth and other planets.
c9ybJ8BbP5wK9kWYtuNWijkhfZgdPYz65fyHv+xsmyVQgfrflSZGluO4y5YuquhSAdTomO8wFtdLGi1kP21Jwlv8iEXWnivx8QYKNrErvbuKXa08jQzZOpTgA7X8bJ9U Conclusions we draw based on observations.
fXvjRoS0yk0Ynbhj3H4SKb0+k6Je29QI9088YbOkEHUO8mUg0VRsBepmcA++w3/7/HpjUw/Pr7Sg0Cg/VfZadxoJzkx+pWwQVbSZ8Kmu6+p0ikodpwbZ2ynICL4kY3I0 Region of the atmosphere that starts at ground level and extends upward about 7 miles.
87oWjRQ33bBKjTJD0hQ4CGw9B8B6s16HkGSFf4E81BzNKPQyXBnN8HvFGgVnv/WajOLohyOrpQEg4lYHNW/xZTLKcwF4k3tQB2EH1Iu2XUphoYqMiO/YAZZl+rtuSPfj Information detected with the senses—or with equipment that extends our senses.
Ysg/7RKXFx/Ds/9Ac2GGTjOnR6S9dq+S+XSwuvWhcRY2+7S3j2EYMVyIsfd3x5ChFYpgZMEK9y8OqYa4miS3UTrrmS+wYGtgq+Z46F2ffzsyy7d/DzB6Nes9O3CaeC9y Region of the atmosphere that starts at the top of the tropo­sphere and extends up to about 31 miles; contains the ozone layer.
/32cDaK6uylzXMWzPxovKF4Igm8SjZFtfU7VFBbCOXSbrV+wWN0fZKew9FGEgtsukc9ANanrOlXdumPQqAjBAsc44eOyOYJUYSRLcXfppN0yp5r8h1Z8s/HBnmRcw4Wg Molecule with three oxygen atoms that absorbs UV radiation in the stratosphere.
gV/L9ZQqbfO3uXtsSt+Bfr2RpEGFEIgHl9XXLKDVJYqQxEdiANhaQZXlhsWNdRXlAh3/GaexRwOfRMIWc6vhP84UlCJM5yulwgEp/ADBdW+rav4difk9cI5pK6PtirA5 A kind of solar energy whose wavelengths are shorter than visible light and longer than X rays.
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Question Sequence

Question 2.1

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Altitude, temperature, weather patterns, location of ozone, and type of UV radiation blocked are all valid answers.

Question 2.2

The xJIST2USdACCWJtCZQghpR4bKW0= the energy of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, the more likely it is to reach Earth's surface.

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Question 2.3

The higher the energy of UV radiation, the GIKAhc6fiTcLv+Jr7Wi+KQ== likely it is to cause damage to the outer tissues and DNA of organisms.

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Question 2.4

The three classes of UV radiation differ in how well they can pass through the ozone layer. Label the three boxes below A, B, or C to indicate how much each kind of UV is blocked by ozone:

Completely Blocked by Ozone Somewhat Blocked by Ozone Mostly Gets Through Ozone
UV-NG7+HHzWIz8= UV-jE2JFFEMYDU= UV-kxeqpWJuMf4=
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Question 2.5

The names of the layers of the atmosphere may seem arbitrary, but there is a logic behind the cutoff points between them. Explain how each of the following criteria differ between the layers by completing this table:

Troposphere Stratosphere Mesosphere Thermosphere
Altitude range i30/rTXrtyt+HVZWmiles 4c4YnIqmqJXyVbOqmiles 98roodVdD4TI//8Hmiles Above 56 miles
Temperature (increases/decreases) as altitude increases ZKtIVJqYFicE+m/1I8J1RQ== rRA55j2vxkRlDjBzZz8Jtg== Decreases rRA55j2vxkRlDjBzZz8Jtg==
Blocks UV? If yes, list which kind: UV-A, UV-B, or UV-C? MWyPgSG7AMg= Most UV-B, some UV-A zRRjJdrXMz8= MWyPgSG7AMg=
Contains Ozone Layer? No (but sometimes has ozone as an air pollutant) gETEA1uRFG4= MWyPgSG7AMg= MWyPgSG7AMg=
Table
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Infographic 2.1

Question Sequence

Question 2.6

fzZ8HMgJRE9xak8SfxEYBkiQ6RVHrVpq2StlWqYPBn1dW5rW+2+nwiAy2LWoImSLrNIyA7HB82jiWYO0/koeCI0/s/9H7UB1XzMAukM3L2UO8NvIjWeWZSsNnnfMkgvJYYoAc8glYUEM9IWS/s8SYOLYnGc+5FE1QoSQdRu9Sl8DWYewHKgPczpOcR1YAH8kgpy3cu7nhavgbPBOj0e3uJBLbbz+MiYd+4n+BewC5G/7W8X9C3WLjQP7R9anNocM11To8mvr54TLFmqwyERtPjPVG2n3Cty84Xxg7as2xAFwPCeOUQAAtycU7ZWL23zUdiWTbiuPuHhk5x6/VlHw0SBn3JJLCt5zyayLe3o3XiL5s8cbpohAOjlwn9gxl6fQ7YI74Gf7/pQ7hy8xJeltshC10GL/x7PW9kKo9kym8yx5tWSrh8jL5WEgOp9wxlatWQ/k8g==
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Question 2.7

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Question 2.8

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Question 2.9

UV radiation is screened by ozone because UV I+cBFz7+VhzTSJXoOJUaLqDztEiYpRTMleFGieLoOoxMB9z1VqubaaPQ0XIt4671LoQH9i6+Yh8uDiAGG8JNplSbm328G2V9b+PB5Q==.

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Question 2.10

Explain this statement:

SSLMTYIWn7PkFgroXiEIjXL36N9IWHZHRNtiHHNT4ULlmW04skids3XgPtBHiJK8M34fEiA4Om81N5k9UlzmTwskkJ4L0/U9c3I1fBzM3ummGtx8IyT30BspIF8=
UV-B radiation directly breaks the bonds in ozone, releasing oxygen. UV-B radiation also breaks the bonds in CFCs, releasing chlorine, which can react with ozone, causing its bonds to break.

Question 2.11

We live in the layer of the atmosphere known as the iEGy4hJNf+TawbLPGE4oMg==, but the ozone layer that protects Earth from UV radiation is in the ddXmEWiCSDY3u9Okd2DGCA==.

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