6.

2 Stratospheric Ozone
Significant ideas:
1) Stratospheric ozone is a key component of the
atmospheric system because it protects living systems
from the negative effects of ultraviolet radiation from
the Sun.
2) Human activities have disturbed the dynamic
equilibrium of stratospheric ozone formation.
3) Pollution management strategies are being employed
to conserve stratospheric ozone.
Rowland and Molina's warnings about CFCs and ozone
depletion, followed by the discovery of the ozone hole,
spurred the negotiation of several international agreements to
protect the ozone layer, leading eventually to a worldwide
ban on CFC production in 1996
6.1U3 Ultraviolet radiation reaching the surface of the Earth
damages human living tissues increasing the incidence of
cataracts, mutations during cell division, skin cancer and other
subsequent effects on health

https://www.gayaopticians.com/uv-an-invisible-danger/
6.1U3 Ultraviolet radiation reaching the surface of the Earth
damages human living tissues increasing the incidence of
cataracts, mutations during cell division, skin cancer and other
subsequent effects on health

• DNA readily absorbs

UV-B radiation, which
commonly changes the
shape of the molecule
• Changes often mean
that protein-building
enzymes cannot “read”
the DNA code at that
point on the molecule.
• As a result, distorted
proteins can be made,
or cells can die.
https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/UVB
6.1U3 Ultraviolet radiation reaching the surface of the Earth
damages human living tissues increasing the incidence of
cataracts, mutations during cell division, skin cancer and other
subsequent effects on health

https://freeness.us/gel-manicures-linked-to-skin-cancer/
6.1U3 Ultraviolet radiation reaching the surface of the Earth
damages human living tissues increasing the incidence of
cataracts, mutations during cell division, skin cancer and other
subsequent effects on health

Take care not to confuse effects of ozone decline in the stratosphere

(i.e. increase in UV radiation reaching the earth) with impacts of ozone
in the troposphere.
6.2.U4 The effects of increased ultraviolet radiation on biological
productivity include damage to photosynthetic organisms,
especially phytoplankton which form the basis of aquatic food
webs
• Phytoplankton do not exist
in isolation
• Other microbes, the
protozoa, bacteria and
viruses, can be directly
damaged or killed by solar
UVB.
• Due to the interactions
between trophic levels of
the microbial community,
any UVB-induced impact at
one level can alter the
entire community
http://www.antarctica.gov.au/magazine/2001-2005/issue-1-autumn-2001/science/effect-of-oz
e-depletion-on-antarctic-marine-microbes
6.2.U4 The effects of increased ultraviolet radiation on biological
productivity include damage to photosynthetic organisms,
especially phytoplankton which form the basis of aquatic food
webs
• Plants are vulnerable to increased UV-B radiation because many cellular
components can absorb UV directly
• Increased UV-B radiation has many effects on plant morphology,
physiology and development, and its impacts on growth and development
• Reduction in biomass accumulation due to UV-B exposure has been
verified
• Many plants exposed to this radiation exhibit decreased rates of
photosynthesis
6.1U3 Ultraviolet radiation reaching the surface of the Earth
damages human living tissues increasing the incidence of
cataracts, mutations during cell division, skin cancer and other
subsequent effects on health
Beneficial Effects of UV
• In animals stimulates the production of Vit D.
• Treat psoriasis and vitiligo (skin diseases)
• Steriliser, water purifier
• Forensics, lighting, lasers