Atmospheric Ozone Worksheet
NYS Science Earth & Space Systems
Name:
Date:
Class:
The Two Faces of Ozone
Stratospheric Protection vs. Tropospheric Pollution • Comprehension & Evidence
New York State Alternate Assessment
PART 1
Key Concept Check
Circle the correct answer
1. Why is ozone in the stratosphere beneficial to living things?
A It acts as a greenhouse gas to trap heat near the ground
B It shields organisms from harmful radiation from the Sun
C It breaks down exhaust emitted by automobiles
D It condenses water vapor to produce precipitation
2. How does harmful ground-level ozone form in the troposphere?
A Automobiles and power plants directly release pure ozone
B Severe windstorms push large amounts down from the upper air
C Sunlight breaks apart carbon and nitrogen compounds in pollution
D Excessive plant growth releases ozone during photosynthesis
3. Why is the doubling of tropospheric ozone an environmental hazard?
A It acts as a greenhouse gas that traps radiation, causing warming
B It prevents clouds from forming, ending global rainfall
C It completely removes all oxygen available for animals to breathe
D It severely reduces global temperatures and triggers ice formation
4. What does the term "short residence time" mean regarding ozone in the atmosphere?
A It remains in the atmosphere for centuries after being created
B Reducing emissions allows atmospheric ozone levels to drop quickly
C Ozone can only travel a few meters before dissolving
D It can only form in the atmosphere during winter months
PART 2
Comparative Analysis: Two Layers of Ozone
Fill in the comparison table
| Dimension |
Stratospheric Ozone
|
Tropospheric Ozone
|
| --- | --- | --- |
| Atmospheric Location | | |
| How It Forms | | |
| Impact on Life / Climate | | |
PART 3
Cause-and-Effect Flowchart: Smog Formation
Fill in each blank stage
Step 1 Fossil Fuels Burned Cars, trucks, & factories
Step 2: Compounds Emitted
Step 3: Energy Trigger
Step 4: Resulting Hazard
PART 4
Critical Thinking & Applied Science
Respond in complete sentences
5. Residence Time & Action: Ozone has a "short residence time" compared to greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, which stay for centuries. Why does this provide immediate optimism and motivation for cities to clean up air emissions?
6. Mitigation Solutions: Based directly on how tropospheric ozone is formed, describe two concrete actions or policies a community could implement to reduce ground-level ozone.
New York State P-12 Science Standards • Earth & Space Systems • Alternate Assessment Support
