ozone layer

American  

[oh-zohn ley-er] / ˈoʊ zoʊn ˈleɪ ər /

noun

ozone layers plural

1. Meteorology. the layer of the upper atmosphere where most atmospheric ozone is concentrated, from about 8 to 30 miles (12 to 48 km) above the earth, with the maximum ozone concentration occurring at an altitude of about 12 miles (19 km).

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ozone layer British  

noun

1. Also called: ozonosphere.  the region of the stratosphere with the highest concentration of ozone molecules, which by absorbing high-energy solar ultraviolet radiation protects organisms on earth

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ozone layer Scientific  

1. A region of the atmosphere, lying mostly in the stratosphere, containing relatively high levels of ozone, with the greatest concentrations occurring from about 15 to 30 km (10 to 19 mi) above the Earth's surface. The ozone absorbs large amounts of solar ultraviolet radiation, preventing it from reaching the Earth's surface. The concentration of ozone in the ozone layer is usually under 10 parts per million.

2. Also called ozonosphere

3. See Note at ozone

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ozone layer Cultural  

1. A band of ozone in the upper atmosphere. Ozone is a molecule made of three atoms of oxygen instead of the usual two.

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Discover More

The ozone layer absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun and is thus very important to the health of human beings and other life forms on Earth. The Earth's ozone layer could be at risk because of the action of chlorofluorocarbons, but international treaties have banned the production of these chemicals. The ozone layer is expected to return to normal in a few decades. (See ozone hole.)

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• ozone layers
  plural

Example Sentences

That, scientists say, could slow the recovery of the ozone layer, which protects life by blocking ultraviolet light.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

They worry that launch emissions and vaporized space junk could damage the ozone layer and interfere with the atmosphere’s complex chemistry in other ways.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

HFCs were introduced in the 1990s to replace chemicals that had been found to erode the ozone layer, but turned out to be catastrophic for global warming.

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

The concern over ozone depletion dates back to 1985, when scientists identified a growing hole in the ozone layer above Antarctica.

From Science Daily • Apr. 16, 2026

“He’s becoming a man. Men act strange from time to time, and I am worried about what the hole in the ozone layer is doing to the plants in the rain forest.”

From "Lawn Boy" by Gary Paulsen