Science
What is The ozone layer?
The ozone layer is a region high in the atmosphere rich in ozone gas that absorbs most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation. It acts like Earth's sunscreen, shielding life from UV rays that damage DNA and cause skin cancer.
See it, don’t just read it.
Watch a 2-minute lesson with voice + animation that explains the ozone layer.
Key things to understand
- 1It sits in the stratosphere, about 15–35 km up.
- 2Ozone (O₃) absorbs most dangerous ultraviolet light.
- 3It protects life from UV damage to DNA and cells.
- 4Human-made chemicals (CFCs) thinned it, creating an 'ozone hole.'
- 5A global ban on CFCs is letting it slowly recover.
Frequently asked questions
- What does the ozone layer do?
- It absorbs most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation, shielding living things from UV damage to DNA, skin, and eyes.
- What caused the ozone hole?
- Human-made chemicals called CFCs (once in sprays and refrigerants) drifted up and destroyed ozone, thinning the layer over Antarctica.
- Is the ozone layer recovering?
- Yes — after the world banned CFCs under the 1987 Montreal Protocol, the layer has slowly been healing.