Contribution of Excited Ozone and Oxygen Molecules to the Formation of the Stratospheric Ozone Layer

Abstract

The absorption of UV, visible and near IR radiation by O 3 produces transient, electronically excited O 3. The absorption of thermal IR radiation (λ = 9.065, 9.596 and 14.267 µm) produces vibrationally excited O 3 molecules. Thermal absorption is likely the main factor in the self-decay of O 3. Photoexcitation of ground state O 2 (X 3 Σ g-) by IR and red light radiation produces singlet oxygens (O 2 (a 1 ∆ g) and O 2 (b 1 Σ g