Stratospheric Ozone Depletion
Provided by: Khan Academy|Published on: April 27, 2021
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12, AP
Type: Videos
Subjects: Chemistry, Biology, Earth and Space Sciences, Health
Authors: Khan Academy
Region: Global
Languages: English
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This video explains how ozone forms in the stratosphere and the role it plays in protecting life on Earth from damaging ultraviolet radiation.
- It also discusses CFCs and other ozone-depleting substances, and the fact that ozone can be harmful when it forms at ground level from nitrous oxide (a by-product of burning fossil fuels) and volatile organic compounds.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- Drawings and diagrams help illustrate the concepts presented in the video and the interactive questions can help students check their understanding.
- It connects the health implications of ground-level ozone and the depletion of stratospheric ozone to human activities that we can change.
Additional Prerequisites
- You may want to introduce students to the Montreal Protocol, which limited the production of ozone-damaging substances and saved the planet from extreme UV radiation damage.
Differentiation
- Philosophy or English language arts classes could discuss how ozone is helpful when it is in the stratosphere and dangerous when it is in the troposphere. Students could write about something else that has the power to harm or help organisms, depending on variables such as time, place, amount, or application.
- Chemistry classes could discuss the chemical reaction that occurs when nitrous oxide and volatile organic compounds are exposed to ultraviolet light.
- Other resources on this topic include this American Lung Association article on ozone's effect on lung health, this experiment from the EPA on testing for tropospheric ozone, and this Vox video about the ozone layer.
This 5-minute video presents an overview of ozone chemistry in our atmosphere with a particular focus on stratospheric ozone, causes of stratospheric ozone depletion, and the impacts on human health. This is a concise video that presents complex atmospheric chemistry topics clearly. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
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