Ozone layer

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/ozone-layer

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Who discovered Ozone layer?1913
2. What is the scientific name?Ozone (O3)
3. What is the absorption spectrum?Absorbs 97-99% of solar ultraviolet radiation between 200 nm and 315 nm
4. Why does the ozone layer protect us from the sun?Ozone absorbs 97% to 99% of the sun’s medium‑frequency UV rays, which can damage skin, eyes, and DNA. By blocking these rays, the ozone layer helps keep us healthy.
5. Where can we find the ozone layer in the sky?It sits in the stratosphere, about 9 to 22 miles above the Earth’s surface, where the concentration of ozone is highest.

Stratosphere: The layer of Earth's atmosphere situated above the troposphere, extending from approximately 10 to 50 kilometers above the surface, where the ozone layer resides.
Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation: Electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun, with wavelengths shorter than visible light, categorized into UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C, with UV-B being significantly absorbed by the ozone layer.
Ozone Depletion: The reduction in the concentration of ozone in the stratosphere, primarily caused by anthropogenic chemicals like CFCs and halons.
Montreal Protocol: An international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances.