The Ozone Layer
The ozone layer in the stratosphere absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation, and it was damaged by chemicals called CFCs.
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The ozone layer in the stratosphere absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation, and it was damaged by chemicals called CFCs.
- The Montreal Protocol banned CFCs
- The ozone hole is slowly recovering
- UV can cause skin cancer
🧠 Quick quiz
Three questions. Score 2 or more to complete the topic.
What is The Ozone Layer?
Within Earth & Environmental Science, which covers our planet, its resources and ecosystems, and how people can protect the environment, this topic explains The Ozone Layer. Earth and environment topics show how the planet’s systems shape landscapes, climate and life, with models that make these processes visible.
Check that you can explain The Ozone Layer in your own words and give one example from everyday life. If you can do that, you have understood the core idea.
Understanding The Ozone Layer helps you explain the environment around you and weigh up how people can protect it.
The Ozone Layer in detail
The ozone layer is a region of the stratosphere, about 15–35 km above the ground, with a high concentration of ozone (O₃), which absorbs most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV-B) radiation. UV can cause skin cancer, cataracts, weakened immune systems and harm to plants and marine life.
In the 1980s, scientists discovered an "ozone hole" over Antarctica, caused by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from aerosols, refrigerators and foams, which release chlorine atoms that destroy ozone molecules. The Montreal Protocol (1987) phased out CFCs, and the ozone layer is slowly recovering. It is regarded as an example of successful global environmental action.
How the interactive helps you understand The Ozone Layer
Watch the Earth model in the interactive. Use any sliders or buttons it offers to change the values and see how the Earth model responds.
Before you change anything, predict the result. Then change one value at a time and check whether your prediction was right. This is a quick way to build a correct mental model of The Ozone Layer.
Real-life uses and examples
- Discuss how human activity changes The Ozone Layer, using a named example.
- Explain how The Ozone Layer affects the landscape or climate near you.
- Link The Ozone Layer to a real environmental problem and a possible solution.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Presenting one cause as the only cause of an environmental change.
- Describing a process without the timescale it works over.
- Learning the definition without testing it. Use the quiz and the interactive to check that you can apply the idea.
Frequently asked questions about The Ozone Layer
What is The Ozone Layer?
The ozone layer in the stratosphere absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation, and it was damaged by chemicals called CFCs.
What are the most important points about The Ozone Layer?
The main points are: The Montreal Protocol banned CFCs; The ozone hole is slowly recovering; UV can cause skin cancer.
Why is The Ozone Layer useful?
Understanding The Ozone Layer helps you explain the environment around you and weigh up how people can protect it.
How can I practise The Ozone Layer?
Open the interactive at the top of this page and change the controls one at a time. Predict the result before each change, then take the three-question quiz. A score of two or more marks the topic as complete on this device.
Which topics are related to The Ozone Layer?
Related topics in Earth & Environmental Science include Desertification, Population and the Environment, Natural Hazards and Disasters.