ozone
triatomic oxygen gas in air
A special kind of oxygen gas with three atoms, found in the air; high in the sky it blocks dangerous sun rays, but near the ground it can be harmful to people and plants.
ozone in [a part of the atmosphere]
- The ozone layer absorbs most of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation.
- Scientists are worried about rising levels of ground-level ozone in large cities.
- International agreements have helped slow the depletion of stratospheric ozone over Antarctica.
- High ozone readings today have triggered a health warning for people with asthma.
- Satellites are used to monitor changes in atmospheric ozone around the globe.
- The ozone layer protects our skin from the sun.
- In many big cities, ground-level ozone is a serious problem in summer.
- Scientists measure ozone in the air every day.
- Some chemicals can damage ozone in the atmosphere.
fresh, bracing seaside air
Fresh, clean air that feels strong and cool, often near the sea or after rain and wind.
the ozone at [a place]
- We walked along the cliffs, breathing in the sharp ozone from the sea.
- She said a week of ozone and sunshine was exactly what she needed to recover.
- The ozone on the coast made the early-morning run feel exhilarating.
- You can almost taste the ozone after a heavy storm passes.
- City dwellers often dream of escaping to the ozone of the seaside.
- We go to the sea to breathe the ozone.
- The strong ozone by the ocean wakes me up.
- After the storm, the ozone in the air feels very fresh.
- He moved to the coast for the sun and the ozone.
- Base: ozone
- Plural: ozone
ground-level ozone
1ozone near the ground as pollutant
Ozone that is close to the ground, where people breathe it, and that can harm health and plants.
- Ground-level ozone is a major component of summer smog in many big cities.
- Children and older adults are especially sensitive to ground-level ozone.
hole in the ozone layer
1area of severely depleted ozone
A large area in the ozone layer where there is much less ozone than normal.
- The hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica has started to slowly shrink.
- Scientists first reported a hole in the ozone layer in the mid-1980s.
ozone alert
1public warning about high ozone
An official warning that the amount of ozone in the air is too high and may be dangerous to health.
- The city issued an ozone alert and advised people to limit outdoor exercise.
- During an ozone alert, residents are asked to use public transport instead of driving.
ozone depletion
1loss of stratospheric ozone over time
The gradual loss of ozone in the ozone layer, usually because of human-made chemicals.
- Ozone depletion was largely caused by chlorofluorocarbons used in old spray cans and refrigerators.
- Ozone depletion increases the risk of skin cancer and eye damage.
ozone layer
1stratospheric ozone-rich protective layer
The part of the air high above the Earth that has a lot of ozone and blocks most of the sun’s dangerous ultraviolet rays.
- The discovery of a hole in the ozone layer caused global concern in the 1980s.
- Without the ozone layer, life on Earth would be exposed to far more harmful radiation from the sun.
- International agreements have helped to protect the ozone layer from damaging chemicals.