How does amount of ozone in the atmosphere effect UV radiation?
Changes in ozone concentration in the atmosphere affect ultra violet (UV) radiation. The UV portion of the solar spectrum is generally divided into three regions: 1) UV-A (315-400 nm); 2) UV-B (280-315 nm); and 3) UV-C (< 280 nm). The UV-A is essentially unaffected by ozone absorption; the UV-B is strongly affected by variations in ozone; and the UV-C is almost entirely absorbed before it reaches the surface. Even a small increase in the amount of UV-B radiation can cause an increase in health problems such as skin cancer. At the earth's surface, the incoming solar radiation depends on the absorption and scattering of the atmosphere, the earth-sun distance, and the irradiance of the sun. The atmospheric transmission in the UV portion of the spectrum is controlled primarily by Rayleigh scattering by air molecules, scattering by clouds, and absorption by ozone. Aerosol particle scattering and absorption can also play a significant role. Solar UV irradiance arriving at the earth's surface
