AP Environmental Science / Unit 9: Global Change
9.1 Stratospheric Ozone Depletion
Notes
The stratospheric ozone layer absorbs harmful UV-B radiation.
- CFCs release chlorine in the stratosphere; one Cl atom can destroy thousands of ozone molecules.
- Thinning increases skin cancer and cataracts and harms phytoplankton.
Practice
The main cause of ozone depletion:
Chlorine catalyzes breakdown.
A thinner ozone layer increases:
Less UV absorbed.
Ozone depletion is worst over:
Polar stratospheric clouds.
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