The Ozone Layer
The next important feature of Earth’s atmosphere is the protective ozone layer. Ozone is a compound of oxygen. It is found in a layer in the upper part of Earth’s atmosphere and reflects significant amounts of harmful solar radiation away from Earth and back to outer space. Without the ozone layer, living things on Earth would be harmed by ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Of the three types of UV radiation—UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C - the ozone layer is most effective at filtering out UV-C. UV-B radiation causes sunburn, genetic damage, and skin cancer in humans. Though it is not completely filtered out, the ozone layer is essential for protecting us from excessive levels of this highly dangerous radiation. Without the ozone layer, sunburns and skin cancer would be much more prevalent and deadly on Earth.
