The Earth's atmosphere is divided into several layers. The lowest region, the troposphere, the next layer, the stratosphere, and the most atmospheric ozone are concentrated in a layer in the stratosphere, about 15–30 kilometers above the Earth's surface. Ozone is a molecule containing three oxygen atoms. It is blue in color and has a strong odor oppose to normal oxygen which has two oxygen atoms that are colorless and odorless. Ozone is much less common than normal oxygen. Out of each 10 million air molecules, about 2 million are normal oxygen, but only 3 are ozone. However, even the small amount of ozone plays a key role in the atmosphere; it is responsible for keeping oxygen on our planet. Ozone plays a critical role in chemical and biological processes by filtering ultraviolet radiation (UV rays). When the ozone layer

CFC's (various halocarbon compounds consisting of carbon, hydrogen, chlorine, and fluorine) are the major cause of ozone depletion. In 1979 scientists detected a hole in the ozone above Antarctica. It wasn't a complete hole but merely a mass decrease. Each year since, the hole has grown in size. It is now greater in area than the entire continents of the United States. A similar hole appears to be developing over the Arctic in the Northern Hemisphere. Ozone depletion will affect the earth and everyone on it. It has been proven that the ozone layer has diminished by 3%. The affects that ozone depletion leaves is an increased health risk. Since more UV rays are getting through the ozone layer, more of the harmful UV light is entering our eyes. Corneal photokeratitus, or snow blindness, and cataract have long been associated with exposure to UV-B. Wearing sunglasses that have 100% UV protection can help prevent this. Ozone depletion is also increasing the risk of skin cancer. Skin cancer is caused by mostly Ultraviolet B radiation, or Ultraviolet B rays. Ultraviolet B falls within the photo-absorption spectrum DNA, and when it is not eliminated by ozone in the stratosphere or melanin in the skin, it causes direct damage to DNA. There is little we can do to protect ourselves against this. It is in this zone that plankton thrives in the billions. This plankton is responsible for 85% of the oxyg

Some topics in this essay:
Depletion Imagine, Climate Earth, UV-B Wearing, Hemisphere Ozone, ozone depletion, ozone layer, global warming, ultraviolet radiation, normal oxygen, uv rays, ozone layer depletion, depletion global warming, layer stratosphere, ice caps melting, affect earth, weather catastrophes, alarming rate,