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10.23
Ozone Through the Seasons
Written by:Dana Desonie, Ph.D.
Fact-checked by:The CK-12 Editorial Team
Last Modified: Apr 01, 2026
The ozone hole on September 1 2014 was smaller than the hole had been at the same time in prior years. Is the ozone layer recovering?
Why it Matters
- Ozone is a pollutant at ground level but a necessary part of the ozone layer, where it protects us from harsh UV rays.
- Without stratospheric ozone we would get skin cancer and harsher sunburns.
- Scientists will be better able to monitor the ozone layer all over the planet and in all seasons with the SAGEIII monitor.
- SAGEIII will analyze the colors of the sunset to track ozone.
The surface of Mars receives damaging UV radiation because the planet has little atmosphere to protect it
Explore More
With the link below, learn more about the ozone. Then answer the following questions.
- Science@NASA, ScienceCasts: Don't Let This Happen to Your Planet (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEdqeHHoYKU
- Is it likely that there is life on Mars and why? If there is life on Mars, where is it?
- How will the SAGEIII monitor ozone at the North Pole during the winter?
- Why do scientists want to monitor the ozone layer?
- Why are scientists especially interested in ozone levels in the lower stratosphere in the tropics?
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