Ozone Notes

- The rate of decline in stratospheric ozone at mid-latitudes has slowed; hence, the projections of ozone loss made in the 1994 Assessment are larger than that has actually occurred. - The springtime Antarctic ozone hole continues unabated. - The late-winter/spring ozone values in the Arctic were unusually low in six out of the last nine years, the six being years that are characterized by unusually cold and protracted stratospheric winters. - The understanding of the …

…they slowly begin to break down. Once CFCs or other human-produced halocarbons reach the stratosphere, ultraviolet radiation begins to break up the molecules, in turn releasing a chlorine or bromine atom. The following equations demonstrate how this produced chlorine then attacks ozone: Cl(g) + O3(g) ® ClO(g) + O2(g) ClO(g) + O(g) ® Cl(g) + O2(g) O(g) + O3(g) ® 2O2(g) (net reaction)