Ozone Hole

The Ozone concentrations present in the Stratosphere act as a filter for high-energy sunlight, as Ozone has strong absorption bands in the UV range. The light energy absorbed by Ozone then becomes independent of direction and is then reflected with a greater wave length. Only part of the light energy reaches the earth.

Owing to the anthropogenic Air Pollutants this Ozone layer can be destroyed. The consequence would be a warming of the earth's surface, a decreased stability of the thermal layering of the Stratosphere and increased UV radiation in the Troposphere. Humans, many animals and plants are highly sensitive to hard UV-B and UV-C radiation which are even richer in energy.

The Decomposition of the stratospheric ozone layer is attributed to two substances groups: fluorochlorinated hydrocarbons, CFHC, and Oxides of Nitrogen.