Background: The mechanism describing the formation of the ozone layer was described by British mathematician Sydney Chapman in 1930. Molecular oxygen absorbs high energy sunlight in the UV-C region, at wavelengths shorter than about 240 nm. Radicals produced from the homolytically split oxygen molecules combine with molecular oxygen to form ozone. Ozone in turn is photolysed much more rapidly than molecular oxygen as it has a stronger absorption that occurs at longer wavelengths, where the solar emission is more intense. Ozone (O3) photolysis produces O and O2. The oxygen atom product combines with atmospheric molecular oxygen to reform O3, releasing heat. The rapid photolysis and reformation of ozone heats the stratosphere resulting in a temperature inversion. This increase of temperature with altitude is characteristic of the stratosphere; its resistance to vertical mixing means that it is stratified. Within the stratosphere temperatures increase with  altitude (see temperature inversion); the top of the stratosphere has a temperature of about 270 K (−3°C or 26.6°F). This vertical stratification, with warmer layers above and cooler layers below, makes the stratosphere dynamically stable: there is no regular convection and associated turbulence in this part of the atmosphere. However, exceptionally energetic convection processes, such as volcanic eruption columns and overshooting tops in severe supercell thunderstorms, may carry convection into the stratosphere on a very local and temporary basis. Overall the attenuation of solar UV at wavelengths that damage DNA by the ozone layer allows life to exist on the surface of the planet outside of the ocean. All air entering the stratosphere must pass through the tropopause, the temperature minimum that divides the troposphere and stratosphere. The rising air is literally freeze dried; the stratosphere is a very dry place. The top of the stratosphere is called the stratopause, above which the temperature decreases with height.

Situation: Barbara and Jane are two  students.  They both like meteorology. Barbara studies the formation of the ozone layer, while Jane studies about the stratosphere.

Question: Which student learned more about radicals produced from homolytically split oxygen molecules?
Answer: Barbara

Situation: Barbara and Jane are two  students.  They both like meteorology. Barbara studies the formation of the ozone layer, while Jane studies about the stratosphere.

Question: Which student learned less about radicals produced from homolytically split oxygen molecules?
Answer: Jane

Situation: Barbara and Jane are two  students.  They both like meteorology. Barbara studies the formation of the ozone layer, while Jane studies about the stratosphere.

Question: Which student learned less about radicals combining with molecular oxygen to form ozone?
Answer: Jane

Situation: Barbara and Jane are two  students.  They both like meteorology. Barbara studies the formation of the ozone layer, while Jane studies about the stratosphere.

Question: Which student learned more about radicals combining with molecular oxygen to form ozone?
Answer: Barbara

Situation: Barbara and Jane are two  students.  They both like meteorology. Barbara studies the formation of the ozone layer, while Jane studies about the stratosphere.

Question: Which student learned more about (O3) photolysis?
Answer: Barbara

Situation: Barbara and Jane are two  students.  They both like meteorology. Barbara studies the formation of the ozone layer, while Jane studies about the stratosphere.

Question: Which student learned less about (O3) photolysis?
Answer: Jane

Situation: Barbara and Jane are two  students.  They both like meteorology. Barbara studies the formation of the ozone layer, while Jane studies about the stratosphere.

Question: Which student learned less about temperature inversion?
Answer: Barbara

Situation: Barbara and Jane are two  students.  They both like meteorology. Barbara studies the formation of the ozone layer, while Jane studies about the stratosphere.

Question: Which student learned more about temperature inversion?
Answer: Jane

Situation: Barbara and Jane are two  students.  They both like meteorology. Barbara studies the formation of the ozone layer, while Jane studies about the stratosphere.

Question: Which student learned more about vertical mixing?
Answer: Jane

Situation: Barbara and Jane are two  students.  They both like meteorology. Barbara studies the formation of the ozone layer, while Jane studies about the stratosphere.

Question: Which student learned less about vertical mixing?
Answer: Barbara