IMPLICATIONS OF THE OZONE HOLE
The ozone layer is responsible for the increase in temperature observed in the stratosphere and for filtering high energy UV from sunlight before it reaches the earth. This high energy UV is very damaging to the skin, causing sunburns and skin cancer, and may damage the human immune system as well as the growth of certain plants and animals. Ozone absorbs UV in the reaction:
O3 + hv = O2 + O
This reaction produces heat, thus explaining the increase in temperature in the stratosphere and also absorbs photons of wavelengths less than 320nm, therefore preventing harmful radiation from passing through to the earth.
Destruction of Ozone