Ozone | BIRA-IASB


		Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy
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	Ozone Ozone molecules in two atmospheric layers Ozone (O₃), a molecule comprised of three oxygen atoms (O), is mainly found in two layers of our atmosphere: The stratosphere, a layer in the atmosphere between approximately 10 and 50 kilometers above the Earth’s surface, contains around 90% of the total atmospheric ozone amount. This stratospheric ozone is generally known as the “ozone layer”. Animatie Stratosferisch Ozon 2009 (.avi file, 4 MB) Animatie Stratosferisch Ozon 2010 (.avi file, 4 MB) The ozone in the troposphere, the lowest layer in the atmosphere that reaches from the Earth's surface to an altitude between 8 to 15 kilometres, accounts for the remaining 10% of ozone. (A survey of ozone concentrations in ambient air as measured by the Air Monitoring Networks of Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia is available on the Interregional Cell for the Environment website.) Ozone molecules are chemically the same in both layers, consisting of three oxygen atoms and sharing the same chemical formula O 3. Nevertheless, they influence humans and other living creatures in a totally different way. Read complete article Ozone, influence on humans and living creatures Two spectacular phenomena threatened the natural protection The stratospheric ozone layer protects the Earth’s biosphere from a large part of the ultraviolet radiation emitted by the Sun. Appearing in the beginning of the 1980s, two spectacular phenomena demonstrated that certain human activities threatened this natural protection against ultraviolet rays... Read complete article BIRA-IASB monitors effect of Montreal Protocol The Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB) is (and has been) particularly interested in ozone related phenomena: BIRA-IASB monitors the ozone layer (ground based and satellite observations) BIRA-IASB monitors the substances destroying ozone Understanding ozone abundance mechanisms with GOME, GOMOS and ALTIUS Research Projects ALTIUS, a limb imaging spectrometer on a micro-satellite platform BASCOE (Belgian Assimilation System of Chemical Observations from ENVISAT) MACC stratospheric ozone service AURORA - Advanced Ultraviolet Radiation and Ozone Retrieval for Applications History: Antarctic ozone research 1965 - 1967