Ozone layer

Artists consept

The ozone layer or ozone shield is a region of Earths stratosphere that absorbs most of the Suns ultraviolet (uv) radiation. It contains high concientration of Ozone (O³) in relation to other parts of the atmosphere, although still small in relation to other gases in the stratosphere. The ozone layer contains less than 10 parts per million of ozone, while the average ozone concentration in Earth's atmosphere as a whole is about 0.3 parts per million. The ozone layer is mainly found in the lower portion of the stratosphere, from approximately 15 to 35 kilometers (9.3 to 21.7 mi) above Earth, although its thickness varies seasonally and geographically.

The ozone layer was discovered in 1913 by the French physicists Charles Fabry and Henri Buisson.

The ozone layer absorbs 97 to 99 percent of the Sun's medium-frequency ultraviolet light (from about 200 nm to 315 nm wavelength), which otherwise would potentially damage exposed life forms near the surface.

Venus also has a thin ozone layer at an altitude of 100 kilometers from the planet's surface.

The ozone layer which envelops the earth is crucial in maintaining a balance of climatic conditions and also for keeping ocean currents on their natural course. However, activities of human beings over the past few decades have led to the depletion of the layer. That, in turn, had thrown ocean currents off their usual course.