The ozone layer is the part of the Earth's atmosphere which contains relatively high concentrations of ozone (O3).

"Relatively high" means a few parts per million - much higher than the concentrations in the lower atmosphere but still small compared to the main components of the atmosphere.

Although the concentration of ozone in the ozone layer is very small, it is vitally important to life because it absorbs biologically harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun.

The "thickness" of the ozone layer - that is, the total amount of ozone in a column overhead - varies by a large factor worldwide, being in general smaller near the equator and larger as one moves towards the poles.

It also varies with season, being in general thicker during the spring and thinner during the autumn..

For more information about the topic Ozone layer, read the full article at Wikipedia.org, or see the following related articles:

Tropospheric ozone — Ozone (O3) is a key constituent of the troposphere. Photochemical and chemical reactions involving it drive many of the chemical processes that occur ...  > read more

Atmospheric chemistry — Atmospheric chemistry is a branch of atmospheric science in which the chemistry of the Earth's atmosphere and that of other planets is studied. It is ...  > read more

Ozone depletion — Ozone depletion describes the observed loss of ozone in the stratosphere over the past 50 years. It encompasses both a steady thinning of the ozone ...  > read more

Nitrogen oxide — NOx is a generic term for the various nitrogen oxides produced during combustion. They are believed to aggravate asthmatic conditions, react with the ...  > read more

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