Ozone layer facts for kids
The ozone layer is like Earth's natural sunscreen. It is a special part of our planet's atmosphere. This layer is high up, in a region called the stratosphere. The stratosphere is about 10 to 50 kilometers (6 to 30 miles) above the ground.
This layer is full of a gas called ozone (O3). The amount of ozone can change. It depends on the season and where you are on Earth. The ozone layer is super important. It blocks most of the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV radiation can be very dangerous for all living things on Earth.
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Why is the Ozone Layer Important?
The ozone layer protects us from strong UV rays. These rays can cause problems like skin cancer and eye damage in humans. They can also harm plants and animals. Without the ozone layer, life on Earth would be very different. It would be much harder for living things to survive.
How We Damaged the Ozone Layer
For many years, people used certain man-made chemicals. These chemicals caused damage to the ozone layer. The most well-known ones are called CFCs. CFCs stands for chlorofluorocarbons.
CFCs were used in many products. They were in spray cans, refrigerators, and air conditioners. When these chemicals got into the air, they floated up to the ozone layer. There, they broke down the ozone gas. This process is called ozone depletion. It created a "hole" in the ozone layer, especially over Antarctica.
Luckily, most countries agreed to stop using CFCs. This has helped the ozone layer slowly heal over time.
Discovering the Ozone Layer
The ozone layer was first found in 1913. Two French scientists, Charles Fabry and Henri Buisson, discovered it. Later, a British meteorologist named G. M. B. Dobson studied it more closely.
Dobson invented a special tool called the Dobsonmeter. This tool could measure how much ozone was in the atmosphere from the ground. From 1928 to 1958, he set up many ozone monitoring stations around the world. Many of these stations are still used today. The "Dobson unit" is a way to measure ozone. It is named in his honor.
Images for kids
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UV-B energy levels at several altitudes. Blue line shows DNA sensitivity. Red line shows surface energy level with 10 percent decrease in ozone
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Brewer-Dobson circulation in the ozone layer.
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NASA projections of stratospheric ozone concentrations if chlorofluorocarbons had not been banned.
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This GALEX image of the Cygnus Loop nebula could not have been taken from the surface of the Earth because the ozone layer blocks the ultra-violet radiation emitted by the nebula.
See also
In Spanish: Capa de ozono para niños
