Ozone is created in the stratosphere around the Earth by the Sun.
The Sun’s UV rays break apart an oxygen molecule into 2 oxygen atoms. Each oxygen atom then binds with another oxygen molecule to create an ozone molecule.
It looks like this
If sunlight is blocked, ozone cannot form.
Ozone can also be destroyed by rocket exhaust and chemicals connected to launch vehicles, satellites, and debris.
These are NASA images of the ozone levels in the Southern Hemisphere over the Antarctic on September 17, 1979 and on September 17, 2020
NASA’s Ozone Watch has historical images of ozone thickness in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres of the Earth — ozonewatch.gsfc.nasa.gov
Southern Hemisphere — ozonewatch.gsfc.nasa.gov/monthly/monthly_2020-11_SH.html
Northern Hemisphere — ozonewatch.gsfc.nasa.gov/monthly/monthly_2020-11_NH.html
The Montreal Protocol banned some chemicals known to destroy ozone. Rocket activities were not included.
References:
esrl.noaa.gov/csl/assessments/ozone/2018/downloads/twentyquestions.pdf
Twenty Questions and Answers About the Ozone Layer update booklet
More coming soon…….
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