Which statement about ozone is accurate?

• A. Ozone absorbs UV radiation equally in both layers
• B. Ground-level ozone absorbs UV rays
• C. Ozone does not absorb UV radiation
• D. Stratospheric ozone absorbs UV radiation

Answer: (D)

Ozone’s ability to absorb UV radiation depends on where the ozone is located in the atmosphere. The most important fact is that ozone in the stratosphere acts as a protective shield, absorbing most of the sun’s UV radiation, especially UV-B and UV-C. This shielding prevents a large portion of harmful UV from reaching the surface and harming living organisms.

Ground‑level ozone is a pollutant formed near the ground from reactions of sunlight with pollutants. It does absorb some UV, but it does not provide the protective shield that the stratospheric ozone layer does, and its presence at the surface can harm respiratory health and ecosystems. Ozone does absorb UV radiation, so saying it does not absorb UV is false, and claiming it absorbs UV equally in both layers ignores the different concentrations and effects of ozone at those altitudes.

Thus, the accurate statement highlights the protective role of stratospheric ozone in absorbing UV radiation.