What are the specific effects of radiation on the air?

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The effects of radiation on air can be divided into two main categories: physical attenuation and chemical changes. The specific manifestations are as follows: 1. Physical attenuation: Selective absorption – ozone absorbs ultraviolet rays strongly, while water vapor and carbon dioxide primarily absorb infrared rays. Approximately 19% of the incident radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere and converted into heat energy. Scattering and reflection: Air molecules cause Rayleigh scattering, which spreads blue and violet light in all directions, resulting in a blue sky ； Clouds and dust can reflect about 34% of the radiation back into space, thereby reducing the total amount of radiation that reaches the Earth’s surface. II. Chemical and Environmental Effects: Ionization and Molecular Decomposition: High-energy nuclear radiation can destroy the structure of air molecules, generating reactive free radicals and ions, which trigger chemical reactions in the components of air. Radioactive contamination: Radioactive particles released in nuclear accidents become attached to aerosols and spread through the air, causing radioactive contamination of the air and posing a threat to respiratory health.