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© Unknown
A stagnant air mass is going to bring heat and humidity to the Miami Valley. Not only will it be hot and humid but with little wind we are going to have pollution problems. The Regional Air Pollution Control Agency (RAPCA) has issued an Air Pollution Advisory for the Dayton metro area.

You may have heard about 'ozone action days' and the ozone layer. One is bad the other is good. Confusing because how can something be good and bad at the same time? Well it all depends on WHERE the ozone is in our atmosphere.

First the GOOD ozone -
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© NASA

In the stratosphere (about 10-30miles above the earth's surface) sits a gas called ozone. It's made up of three oxygen molecules (yes I know - chemistry 101 is coming back to haunt you and me). Ozone blocks about 99% of the sun's harmful ultraviolet light radiation. So high in our atmosphere ozone is a good thing because it keeps us safe from the sun's UV radiation. So we want lots of ozone above us.

Now the bad ozone -

We live and see all of our weather in a part of the atmosphere called the troposphere. This layer exists between sea level and 10 miles above sea level. When we have ozone in this part of the atmosphere it's BAD. Ground level ozone is caused by chemical reactions between car exhaust, gasoline vapors, power plants and the sun. Heat, humidity and little wind (like what we are going to experience on Sunday) are the perfect ingredients to whip up a batch of bad ozone. People with breathing problems and children may experience difficultly breathing during high ozone days. Even healthy people can experience shortness of breath if outside for too long.

Here are some easy tips to help combat the "BAD" ozone:

* Fill up your gas tank or mow your grass either early in the morning or late in the evening. (This helps to reduce the amount of gasoline vapors being emitted into the atmosphere. Remember the sun is one of the key ingredients in the chemical reaction so by filling up when there is little sun means little reaction)

* Reduce your driving during high ozone days

* Stay indoors if you can or take numerous breaks and head inside to cool off.

I know many of us what to hang by the pool on these hot and sunny days but just remember to play it safe! So you can enjoy many more bright sunny days