Human Fingerprint in Upper Troposphere Shoots Up Ozone Level That Warms Planet

Scientists Confirm Human Influence on Ozone Increase

A new study by scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has found clear evidence of a human fingerprint on the increasing ozone levels in the upper troposphere, the layer of the atmosphere that extends from about six to 12 miles above the Earth's surface.

Ozone, a greenhouse gas, plays a crucial role in regulating the Earth's temperature.

While ozone in the stratosphere, the layer above the troposphere, protects the planet from harmful ultraviolet radiation, ozone in the troposphere acts as a greenhouse gas that traps heat and contributes to global warming. For decades, scientists have been observing a steady increase in ozone levels in the upper troposphere, but it has been difficult to determine whether this increase is due to human activities or natural variability.