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    Question ID:   10574         Current Version: 1
Question: How is ozone measured in the atmosphere?
Category: Science > Environment & Ecology
Keywords: monitor, measure, atmosphere, ozone
Type: how
Rating:(0 ratings)    Views: 229    Discussions: 0   In Watch Lists: 1  

 
    Answer:

The amount of ozone in the atmosphere is measured by instruments on the ground and carried aloft on balloons, aircraft, and satellites. Some measurements involve drawing air into an instrument that contains a system for detecting ozone. Other measurements are based on ozone's unique absorption of light in the atmosphere. In that case, sunlight or laser light is carefully measured after passing through a portion of the atmosphere containing ozone.

The abundance of ozone in the atmosphere is measured by a variety of techniques. The techniques make use of ozone's unique optical and chemical properties. There are two principal categories of measurement techniques: local and remote. Ozone measurements by these techniques have been essential in monitoring changes in the ozone layer and in developing our understanding of the processes that control ozone abundances.

Measuring Ozone in the Atmosphere 

Ozone is measured throughout the atmosphere with instruments on the ground and on board aircraft, high-altitude balloons, and satellites. Some instruments measure ozone locally in sampled air and others measure ozone remotely some distance away from the instrument. Instruments use optical techniques, with the Sun and lasers as light sources, or use chemical reactions that are unique to ozone. Measurements at many locations over the globe are made regularly to monitor total ozone amounts. 

Local Measurements

Local measurements of atmospheric ozone abundance are those that require air to be drawn directly into an instrument. Once inside an instrument, ozone can be measured by its absorption of ultraviolet (UV) light or by the electrical current produced in an ozone chemical reaction. The latter approach is used in the construction of "ozonesondes," which are lightweight, ozone-measuring modules suitable for launching on small balloons. The balloons ascend far enough in the atmosphere to measure ozone in the stratospheric ozone layer. Ozonesondes are launched regularly at many locations around the world. Local ozone-measuring instruments using optical or chemical detection schemes are also used routinely on board research aircraft to measure the distribution of ozone in the troposphere and lower stratosphere. High-altitude research aircraft can reach the ozone layer at most locations over the globe and can reach farthest into the layer at high latitudes in polar regions. Ozone measurements are also being made on some commercial aircraft.

Remote Measurements

Remote measurements of ozone abundance are obtained by detecting the presence of ozone at large distances away from the instrument. Most remote measurements of ozone rely on its unique absorption of UV radiation. Sources of UV radiation that can be used are the Sun and lasers. For example, satellites use the absorption of UV sunlight by the atmosphere or the absorption of sunlight scattered from the surface of Earth to measure ozone over nearly the entire globe on a daily basis. A network of ground-based detectors measures ozone by the amount of the Sun's UV light that reaches Earth's surface. Other instruments measure ozone using its absorption of infrared or visible radiation or its emission of microwave or infrared radiation. Total ozone amounts and the altitude distribution of ozone can be obtained with remote measurement techniques. Lasers are routinely deployed at ground sites or on board aircraft to detect ozone over a distance of many kilometers along the laser light path. 

Source: NOAA

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