Question

Observe the picture given alongside which shows the effect of certain gases responsible for causing harm to the ozone layer. Answer the questions that follow :

(a) Label the following in the picture: stratosphere , the Sun , ozone layer, the Earth , and the gas or gases that harm the ozone layer.
(b) What damage is shown to be done to the ozone layer?
(c) Is ozone layer helpful or harmful to living organisms on the earth ?
(d) How its depletion affects living organisms on the earth?

Answer 1

Part (a):

The following is the picture showing the stratosphere, the Sun, the ozone layer, the Earth, and the gas or gases that harm the ozone layer.

1. Sun: The sun is the closest star to our planet i.e. earth and provides light and solar energy to earth.
2. Ozone layer: It is a protective layer around the atmosphere of the earth that is responsible for absorbing harmful UV rays from the sun.
3. Earth: It is the third planet from the sun in the solar system and the only planet to support life.
4. Stratosphere: It is a part of the earth's atmosphere that contains the ozone layer and is above the troposphere.
5. Gas or gases harming the ozone layer: These include gases like CFCs that are emitted from various sources that damage the ozone layer in presence of UV radiation.

Part (b):

1. The harmful gases rise up and reach the stratosphere and damage the ozone layer in presence of UV B radiations.
2. This leads to the depletion of the ozone layer, due to which UV radiations can enter the earth's atmosphere freely.
   

Part (c):

1. The ozone layer is a protective layer that protects all of us on the earth as it prevents UV radiation from the sun to reach the earth's surface.
2. The ozone layer also helps in maintaining relatively stable climatic conditions near the surface of the earth.
   

Part (d):

1. Its depletion leads to harmful UV radiation entering the earth freely.
2. UV rays cause blindness, skin cancer, etc.
3. They also adversely affect crop plants.
4. They affect the global rainfall cycle and hydrological cycle.