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Article: Ozone Layer Depletion
- Article from:
- World of Earth Science
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 The Gale Group, Inc. 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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Ozone layer depletion
The ozone layer is a part of the atmosphere between 18.6 mi and 55.8 mi (30 and 90 km) above the ground. The
ozone
present is responsible for blocking potentially harmful ultraviolet radiation reaching the surface of the earth. During the last twenty years, evidence has accumulated that human activity may be the cause of a generalized depletion of the ozone layer. This phenomena is global and distinct from the natural factors that induce annual ozone layer hole formation over
Antarctica
.
Ozone is constantly created and destroyed in natural processes (manufactured by the action of
lightning
on
oxygen
and destroyed by the action of ultraviolet radiation), ...