| Themes > Science > Earth Sciences > Hydrology, Meteorology, Climatology > Meteorology / Climatology > The Ozone Layer > How is ozone created? |
Ozone is formed naturally in the upper stratosphere by short wavelength ultraviolet radiation. Wavelengths less than ~240 nanometers are absorbed by oxygen molecules (O2), which dissociate to give O atoms. The O atoms combine with other oxygen molecules to make ozone: O2 + hv -> O + O (wavelength < 240 nm) O + O2 -> O3 |
|
|