• Question: Could it be possible to patch up the Ozone Layer by recreating what it is made of in the future?

    Asked by libslytherin to Mike, Pip, Tianfu, Tim, Tom on 29 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Tom Lister

      Tom Lister answered on 29 Jun 2012:

      I reckon so. Great idea!

    • Photo: Tim Stephens

      Tim Stephens answered on 30 Jun 2012:

      Yes! Ozone is (from memory), three Oxygen atoms in a ring.

      It’s made in the atmosphere when Ultraviolet light from the sun strikes regular Oxygen gas (two Oxygen atoms), breaks them up and they re-link to form Ozone. Ozone is also made when there’s a spark in the air. In fact, if you go on the London Underground the kind of funny chemical smell is ozone formed by sparks on the train tracks.

      The reason that the Ozone hole was created is because Ozone is unstable, and the Oxygen atoms preferred to form bonds with the CFCs in aerosols than with each other, which depleted the amount in the atmosphere causing the hole.

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