A loss of our protective blanket
| Ozone is a gas in the atmosphere that protects everything living on the Earth from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the Sun. Without the layer of ozone in the atmosphere, it would be very difficult for anything to survive on the surface. The ozone layer acts as a shield to absorb the UV rays, and keep them from doing damage at the Earth's surface. Is the hole still anenvironmental problem? With the banning of CFC chemicals, the ozone layer should eventually repair itself, but it will be many, many decades before we know for sure. In the meantime, sun protection is a must for humans. |
Credit: "Our Changing Planet", Upper Midwest Aerospace Consortium
For more info: http://www.umac.org/ocp/ozone/