The ozone layer, located in the Earth's stratosphere, plays a critical role in protecting life.
Key Function: Ozone (O3) molecules are highly effective at absorbing specific wavelengths of the sun's radiation.
While ozone also absorbs some ultraviolet-A (UV-A) radiation, its most significant protective function is against the more damaging UV-B wavelengths.
Conclusion: The absorption of ultraviolet-B radiations only by atmospheric ozone is crucial for life on Earth.
Ozone layer depletion is a major phenomenon in :