Question

The ozone layer is important because it:

• A. is used by living organisms for respiration.
• B. increases the temperature of the earth.
• C. reduces the amount of ultraviolet rays reaching the earth.
• D. reflects the heat from the earth back into the atmosphere.

Answer 1

The correct option is C reduces the amount of ultraviolet rays reaching the earth.

The ozone layer is important because it absorbs ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, preventing most of it from reaching the earth's surface. Radiation in the UV spectrum has wavelengths just shorter than those of visible light.

So answer is C.