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Article: Ozone mission. (National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite)(Science Newsfront)
- Article from:
- Popular Science
- Article date:
- April 1, 1992
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1992 Bonnier Corporation. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Data obtained in January by research aircraft and NASA's Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) showed an ozone hole developing over parts of the United States, Canada, and Europe. Instruments aboard the planes and satellite recorded concentrations of chlorine monoxide--a chemical involved in ozone destruction--as high as 1.5 parts per billion. That level is the highest ever measured.
In the stratosphere, or upper atmosphere, the sun's ultraviolet radiation breaks chlorine atoms from molecules of chlorofluorocarbons--man-made chemicals commonly used as refrigerants and foaming agents. Chlorine monoxide is formed when the freed chlorine atoms attack ozone ...