The Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS), developed and operated by NASA, was a pioneering satellite instrument designed to measure the distribution and abundance of ozone in the Earth's atmosphere. Launched in the 1970s and utilized through the 2000s, TOMS was instrumental in monitoring the Earth's ozone layer and studying its response to natural and human-induced changes.
TOMS measured the total amount of ozone in the atmosphere, allowing scientists to track the development of the ozone hole over Antarctica and assess the impact of various atmospheric pollutants on ozone depletion. This mission played a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of ozone chemistry and the factors influencing stratospheric ozone concentrations. TOMS contributed to international efforts to protect the ozone layer and reduce harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation reaching the Earth's surface.
