Which atmospheric layer contains the ozone layer?

The correct answer is the stratosphere, which is the atmospheric layer that contains the ozone layer. The ozone layer plays a crucial role in Earth’s atmosphere as it absorbs the majority of the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This absorption of UV radiation helps to protect living organisms on the surface of the Earth, including humans, from potential damage that could lead to health issues such as skin cancer, as well as environmental impacts like harm to ecosystems.

The stratosphere is located above the troposphere and is characterized by a temperature inversion that occurs because ozone absorbs UV radiation. This makes the stratosphere warmer at higher altitudes compared to the lower portions, which is a significant factor in atmospheric dynamics.

The other layers of the atmosphere, such as the troposphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere, do not contain the ozone layer to the same extent. The troposphere is where weather phenomena occur and is primarily composed of nitrogen and oxygen with very limited amounts of ozone. The mesosphere is located above the stratosphere and has very little ozone, while the thermosphere contains small amounts of ozone mixed with other gases, but it is not concentrated in a layer like in the stratosphere. Thus, the stratosphere