The remaining ozone is in the lower region of the atmosphere,
the troposphere, which extends from the Earth's surface for up to about 10 kilometers.
At
the planet's surface, ozone comes into direct contact with life-forms and displays
its destructive side. Because ozone reacts strongly with other molecules, high
levels are toxic to living systems and can severely damage the tissues of plants
and animals. Many studies have documented the harmful effects of ozone on crop
production, forest growth, and human health. The substantial negative effects
of surface-level tropospheric ozone from this direct toxicity contrast with
the benefits of the additional filtering of UV-B radiation that it provides.
There is concern about increases in ozone
in the troposphere.. Low-lying ozone is a key component of smog, a familiar
problem in the atmosphere of many cities around the world. Higher than usual
amounts surface-level ozone are now increasingly being observed in rural areas
as well. However, the ground-level ozone concentrations in the smoggiest cities
are very much smaller than the concentrations routinely found in the stratosphere.
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At
the planet's surface, ozone comes into direct contact with life-forms and displays
its destructive side. Because ozone reacts strongly with other molecules, high
levels are toxic to living systems and can severely damage the tissues of plants
and animals. Many studies have documented the harmful effects of ozone on crop
production, forest growth, and human health. The substantial negative effects
of surface-level tropospheric ozone from this direct toxicity contrast with
the benefits of the additional filtering of UV-B radiation that it provides.