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Difficulty: HardClimate Change, Global Warming and Ozone Layer Depletion

Match the atmospheric compounds listed in List-I with their primary environmental role or atmospheric characteristic in List-II:

  • Stratospheric OzoneNaturally occurring stratospheric layer that filters out harmful solar ultraviolet-B (UV−BUV-B) radiation
  • Tropospheric OzoneSecondary pollutant formed via photochemical reactions that acts as a short-lived climate force in the lower atmosphere
  • Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCsHFCs)Non-ozone-depleting greenhouse gases introduced as replacements for ozone-depleting substances but possessing high heat-trapping capacity
  • Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6SF_6)Synthetic fluorinated gas with a 100-year Global Warming Potential exceeding 20,00020,000 used primarily in high-voltage switchgear

Answer

Stratospheric Ozone matches filtering harmful solar UV-B radiation; Tropospheric Ozone matches secondary pollutant acting as a short-lived climate force; Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) match non-ozone-depleting greenhouse gases with high heat-trapping capacity; Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) matches synthetic fluorinated gas with a GWP exceeding 20,000 used in high-voltage switchgear.
Each atmospheric compound is matched to its definitive ecological and chemical profile: stratospheric ozone shields the biosphere from harmful solar UV-B radiation; tropospheric ozone acts as a secondary ground-level pollutant and climate force; hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are non-ozone depleting substitutes with high warming potential; and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is an industrial gas with an extreme global warming potential exceeding 20,000.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Differentiate between stratospheric and tropospheric ozone roles.
Stratospheric ozone is beneficial by shielding against UV-B, while tropospheric ozone is a ground-level pollutant and greenhouse gas.
Atmospheric location dictates whether ozone acts as a protective shield or a pollutant.
2
Evaluate the chemical properties of Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCsHFCs).
HFCs do not contain chlorine atoms, meaning zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODPODP), but exhibit strong radiative forcing.
HFCs were synthesized as alternatives to CFCs/HCFCs to protect the ozone layer, despite their high global warming impact.
3
Identify the Global Warming Potential and application of Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6SF_6).
SF6 is a synthetic heavy gas featuring the highest GWP among Kyoto-regulated greenhouse gases.
Its molecular stability gives it an exceptionally long lifetime and high infrared absorption capability.

Key Concept

Atmospheric Roles and Global Warming Potentials of Greenhouse Gases and Ozone-Related Compounds
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Topics

Climate Change, Global Warming and Ozone Layer Depletion