Skip to main content

What does the ozone layer protect and shield the organisms on Earth from?

The ozone layer protects and shields the organisms on Earth from ultraviolet light from the sun. It sits in the stratosphere, around nine miles above the surface of the earth. Basically, ozone molecules in the stratosphere absorb ultraviolet light, an excess of which can be extremely harmful to living things, including plants and animals (the fact that it causes skin cancer is why we should wear sunscreen when exposed to the sun). For many years,...

The ozone layer protects and shields the organisms on Earth from ultraviolet light from the sun. It sits in the stratosphere, around nine miles above the surface of the earth. Basically, ozone molecules in the stratosphere absorb ultraviolet light, an excess of which can be extremely harmful to living things, including plants and animals (the fact that it causes skin cancer is why we should wear sunscreen when exposed to the sun). For many years, scientists warned that certain chemicals containing chlorine atoms, especially CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) used as propellants in aerosols, were actually eroding the ozone layer by destroying ozone molecules. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), these problems persist, despite increasing evidence that ozone depletion is causing "holes" over the Antarctic that threaten to expose the planet to dangerous levels of ultraviolet rays from the sun. Ozone depletion, along with climate change, remains among the most serious environmental challenges of the twenty-first century.

Popular posts from this blog

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...

How did the United States become an imperial power?

"Imperial power" is a bit of a vague label. It tends to mean several things at once, so let's unpack it. In the sense of "this country was built on conquest by force," the "imperial power" part of America actually predates the United States proper. The territories that would become the United States were imperial colonies, established by the great European empires of the 17th and 18th centuries. Much of the US Constitution and American governance generally goes back to England, history's largest and most successful imperial power, but vital aspects of American culture come from other imperial powers, such as France and Spain. Much of American culture comes from sources other than the old empires, but they were key influences on what the United States became. In the sense of "this country treats conquest by force as a fundamental component of its culture, economy and politics," the United States has always been an imperial power. Even earl...

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...