Ozone Layer

Ozone Layer

This layer of the atmosphere affects the weather because it protects the Earth from the full force of the sun's ultraviolet radiation. A decrease in ozone has been linked to cancer, cataracts, crop failure, damage to the marine food web, and an increase in carbon dioxide levels.
Around the poles, the ozone layer thins drastically in spring and doesn't recover for several months. These "holes" are a major concern in the debate over global warming. [AM] {GC} {WW}