Why is it important? The ozone layer helps to: Depletion of the ozone layer Which human-made substances can damage the ozone layer? How do they cause depletion? How is the ozone layer monitored? Interaction between ODS and climate change The ozone layer Ozone (O 3 ) is found in small amounts throughout the atmosphere, but most of it (around 90%) is concentrated in the stratosphere at approximately 15 to 35 kilometres above the Earth’s surface. This is commonly referred to as the “ozone layer”. Ozone in the stratosphere is not the same as the ozone in the troposphere – the layer of the atmosphere that’s closest to the Earth. Whereas stratospheric ozone protects the planet, tropospheric ozone (“ground-level ozone”) is an air pollutant and a major component of photochemical smog, a phenomenon that contributes to poor air quality and can lead to health problems. Why is it important? By absorbing most of the sun’s harmful UV radiation, the ozone layer plays a vital role in protecting life on Earth. The ozone layer helps to: Regulate global climate It regulates temperatures and, therefore, influences global climate patterns Protect human health It reduces the risk of skin cancer, eye damage, and other health issues in humans Preserve ecosystems It helps conserve biodiversity, as UV radiation can alter plant growth, food chains, and biochemical cycles Ozone hole, ozone layer and their monitoringCAMS/C3S/ECMWF Depletion of the ozone layer Atmospheric ozone concentrations can fluctuate naturally depending on temperature, weather, latitude and altitude. Natural events, such as volcanic eruptions, can also influence ozone levels in the atmosphere. However, these natural causes could not explain the annual appearance of an “ozone hole” over the Antarctic region in the 1980s. Rather, scientists discovered that certain human-made chemicals, specifically chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), were the main cause of this significant […]