Ozone is also called trioxygen because it is made out of three oxygen molecules. Its chemical formula is O3. O3 is a light blue gas, and it has quite a strong smell. It smells similar to chlorine. Ozone is formed when dioxygen gets charged by electricity from the Earth’s atmosphere and also through exposure to ultraviolet light. The highest concentration of ozone can be found in the stratosphere, but it is also found in small quantities in the atmosphere. Ozone’s task is to absorb most of the sun’s UV radiation. Like O2, ozone is also an oxidizer, but it is more powerful than O2. Ozone is also called a greenhouse gas, but it also protects us from harmful UV lights. On higher heights, it isn’t dangerous for living creatures. The ozone that is found in the atmosphere is harmful to us. Ozone is also the main compound of smog. The other big problem we have with ozone is its depletion.
Ozone, which we can consider a climate pollutant, remains in the atmosphere for only a few hours or up to a few weeks. Other greenhouse gases can stay in the atmosphere for thousands of years. With other greenhouse gases, we knew what was the main pollutant, but ozone isn’t a direct source of emission. It is rather a compound, which means it forms together with other greenhouse gases and the interaction of sunlight. It can form together with methane and nitrogen oxides, and these are mainly formed by increased human activities. Nitrogen oxide is mainly emitted by cars and all sorts of vehicles, fossil fuel power plants, the agriculture sector, and other industries.

Although the O3 stays in the atmosphere for a short time, it affects all the living animals negatively and also impacts the climate. As O3 is the main compound in smog, it can worsen bronchitis, trigger asthma, and also damage lung tissue. Tropospheric ozone not only contributes to global warming but also influences evaporation rates, cloud formation, precipitation levels, and atmospheric circulation. These effects primarily occur in areas where substances that lead to the formation of tropospheric ozone are released, thus having a greater impact on the Northern Hemisphere. Ozone also lowers crop production. It also affects plant seed production and overall growth, and plants are also aging faster because of it.

Ozone depletion and climate change are related to each other. Ozone depletion is caused by another greenhouse gas called chlorofluorocarbons and halons. These gases are found in aerosols. They break down the ozone molecules, and due to that, the ozone layer wouldn’t be as effective at catching the UV lights. Instead of ozone depletion, you may have heard of a term called “ozone hole”, These are mainly found in the polar region. People and all the other living things who live under or close to the ”Ozone holes” are harmed by the solar radiation. It may cause them health problems, eye damage, or skin cancer.

In conclusion, compared to other greenhouse gases, Ozone stays in the atmosphere for only a few hours up to a few weeks, and it is mainly in more urban regions. O3, which is found in the stratosphere,’s main task is to absorb the dangerous UV lights, but at the same time, it affects cloud formation, atmospheric air circulation, and also evaporation. Long-term contact with ozone as an air pollutant is the cause of almost one million premature deaths per year. It is estimated that because of ozone, about 79 to 121 tons of crops are lost every year.

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone
https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=84&t=11
https://www.ccacoalition.org/short-lived-climate-pollutants/tropospheric-ozone
https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/research/ozone-uv/moreinfo?view=deleption-climate-change
https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/ozone-hole-and-global-warming