Introduction to Atmospheric Photochemical Modelling

Abstract

Atmospheric photochemical processes often occurring at altitudes of tens of kilometers above the Earth’s surface can be of paramount importance to the existence of life on Earth. The so-called ozone layer formed by a complex variety of chemical and photodissociation processes at altitudes near 22 km, absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation before it reaches the ground where it can damage living organisms. The deoxyribose nucleic acid molecules (D.N.As.) of most organisms absorb very strongly at wavelengths around 300 nm. Had this radiation not been prevented from reaching the ground, it would have caused immediate and significant tissue damage and lead to formation of cancer cells and genetic mutations.