Ozone depletion results in increased exposure to ultraviolet radiation at Earth's surface.

• A. Increased greenhouse gas effect
• B. Global warming
• C. Increased exposure to ultraviolet radiation
• D. No change in UV exposure

Answer: (C)

Ozone in the stratosphere acts as a sunscreen for Earth, absorbing a large portion of ultraviolet radiation from the Sun, especially the more harmful UV-B and UV-C wavelengths. When ozone is depleted, its capacity to absorb this UV radiation drops, so more ultraviolet rays reach the surface. That increased UV exposure is the direct consequence of ozone depletion. The other options mix in terms of heat-trapping greenhouse effects, which are about infrared radiation and not the specific change in UV reaching the ground, and saying there’s no change would ignore the protective role of the ozone layer.