Step-by-step explanation:
The ozone layer is a layer of ozone gas in the Earth's atmosphere, primarily located in the stratosphere between 10 and 50 kilometers (6 to 30 miles) above the Earth's surface. The ozone layer is important because it plays a critical role in protecting life on Earth from the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.
UV radiation has both positive and negative effects on life on Earth. It helps plants to produce energy through photosynthesis and helps humans to produce vitamin D in their skin. However, excessive exposure to UV radiation can have harmful effects on living organisms, including skin cancer, eye damage, and damage to the immune system.
The ozone layer absorbs and filters out most of the sun's harmful UV radiation before it reaches the Earth's surface. The ozone molecules in the layer break down the UV radiation, converting it into heat energy, which is then dispersed into the atmosphere. Without the protective ozone layer, the amount of UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface would be much higher, causing more damage to living organisms.
In the 1970s and 1980s, it was discovered that certain human-made chemicals, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), were causing damage to the ozone layer. As a result, an international agreement called the Montreal Protocol was developed to phase out the production and use of these chemicals. The protocol has been successful in reducing the production and use of ozone-depleting substances, and the ozone layer is expected to recover by the middle of the 21st century.
In addition, the importance of the ozone layer lies in its ability to protect life on Earth from the harmful effects of UV radiation. Without the ozone layer, the amount of UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface would be much higher, causing more damage to living organisms.