Which of the following statements regarding ozone layer within the atmos- phere is/are correct ? 1. It absorbs most of the ultraviolet radiation found in the Sun’s rays. 2. Chlorofluorocarbons are serious threat to the ozone layer. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

The ozone layer, primarily located in the stratosphere, acts as an invisible shield that protects life on Earth by absorbing harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun [t1][t6]. Specifically, it absorbs a significant portion of UV-B radiation, which is known to cause skin cancer, cataracts, and damage to ecosystems [t1][t2][t6]. Statement 1 is therefore correct. Statement 2 is also correct as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are identified as a serious threat to this layer [c1][c4]. CFCs are stable in the lower atmosphere but decompose under intense UV radiation in the stratosphere, releasing chlorine atoms [c2][t3]. These chlorine atoms act as catalysts; a single chlorine atom can destroy over 100,000 ozone molecules through a chain reaction, leading to significant ozone depletion or the 'ozone hole' [c2][c3][t1]. Thus, both statements are accurate.

Sources

1. [1] https://ozone.unep.org/ozone-and-you
2. [2] https://csl.noaa.gov/assessments/ozone/2014/twentyquestions/intro.html
3. [3] https://www.epa.gov/ozone-layer-protection/health-and-environmental-effects-ozone-layer-depletion
4. [4] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 7: Climate Change > 2. greenhouse gases > p. 11
5. [5] Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 13: Our Environment > 13.2.1 Ozone Layer and How it is Getting Depleted > p. 213
6. [6] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 6: Environmental Degradation and Management > ozone depletion > p. 13
7. [7] https://www.epa.gov/ozone-layer-protection/basic-ozone-layer-science
8. [8] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 20: Earths Atmosphere > Ozonosphere > p. 276