| The ozonle layer protects us by filtering out most of the UV-B radiation as well as the ultraviolet (UV) radiation coming from the sun's rays. Ultraviolet radiation (if let on the the earth) would cause an increase in eye cataracts and skin cancer, a reduction in the productivity of ecological systems, including agriculture, and damage to DNA which carries the information about the characteristics of a species from one generation to the other. From over exposure to the sun's harmful rays, it can lead to sunburn's weakened immune systems as well. The ozone layer is important in determining climatic and weather patterns of the world - by absorbing UV radiation, the ozone warms the stratosphere , which becomes warmer than the top of the troposphere. The stratosphere acts as a lid to rising air currents in the troposphere, which are the origin of the earth's weather systems. |
