In the Earth’s atmosphere, there is an important layer for the continuity of life on Earth, namely the ozone layer. The importance of the ozone layer for life on Earth is that without this layer, the Earth will become a planet that cannot be inhabited by living things.
Actually, what makes the ozone layer very important for life on Earth and what are its functions? The following is a complete discussion of the functions and reasons why the ozone layer is so important for the continuation of life on Earth:
1. Layers Ozone Protects Earth from Sunlight
It turns out that sunlight is not entirely good for humans. Direct sunlight is hotter than humans can handle. However, the heat effect of sunlight is dissipated and filtered by the ozone layer.
Because of this, the heat of the sun is being felt by humans on Earth right now, thanks to the filtering in the ozone layer. Some of the harmful effects of sunlight are held in a part of the ozone layer.
This makes the sunlight that reaches the earth good enough for life on Earth. If not filtered first by the ozone layer. The effects of heat and radiation content in sunlight will actually damage the surface of the earth and its living things.
2. The Ozone Layer Protects Earth from Radiation
In addition to the actual heat that humans cannot handle, sunlight also contains radiation waves and cosmic rays which are not good for living things. Some of the radiation rays contained by sunlight are very dangerous.
Radiation in sunlight can mainly damage skin cells in living things due to direct contact. Therefore, exposure to radiation in the long term can cause severe damage to the skin and eyes.
However, the existence of the ozone layer can prevent this radiation from remaining above the atmosphere. Thus, it does not harm living things that live on earth. If the ozone layer did not exist, the radiation could reach the earth’s surface.
3. The Ozone Layer Reabsorbs Sunlight
There is actually a limit to how much sunlight the earth can receive. Therefore, after absorbing enough solar energy. Earth will reflect sunlight energy back into the atmosphere.
Energy and electromagnetic radiation received by the earth are then reflected. In the atmosphere, it is the ozone layer that plays a role in re-absorbing this sunlight. This layer also has the ability to retransmit this energy.
4. The Ozone Layer Regulates the Temperature on Earth
Not only regulates and prevents solar radiation from entering the earth, the ozone layer also has the ability to regulate the temperature on earth. Because the molecules in the ozone layer can absorb solar energy and heat directly.
Then, these molecules will spread heat energy from the sun so that it can warm the surface of planet Earth. This ability also prevents the side of the planet that is cold from getting too cold.
5. As a Physical Shield For Earth
The importance of the ozone layer for life on earth hereafter is as a physical shield. Not only protecting the earth from harmful forms of energy, the ozone layer is also a physical shield for the earth.
When a celestial body is attracted by the earth’s gravity and then falls into the earth, the ozone layer prevents the celestial body from reaching the earth.
Because usually celestial bodies such as meteorites or asteroids that enter the earth, have been burned up after reaching the ozone layer. So, it will not reach the surface of the earth.
6. Controlling Life on Earth
The ozone layer can be said to be the layer that controls life on Earth. This layer keeps the level of sunlight, temperature, and components in it to be suitable for life on Earth.
The ozone layer is also the main supply of gases needed by life on Earth. Starting from oxygen, nitrogen, to carbon dioxide. This gas content is of course very much needed by living things ranging from humans, and animals, to plants.
That is the importance of the ozone layer for life on Earth. It turns out that the ozone layer is very important. Because without this layer, the earth would be a place that living things couldn’t live in.