Ozone in the upper atmosphere protects the biosphere by absorbing which harmful component of solar radiation?

Introduction / Context:
The ozone layer in the Earth atmosphere plays a vital role in sustaining life on the planet. General knowledge and environmental science questions often ask what type of solar radiation ozone absorbs. Understanding this helps you appreciate why ozone depletion is a serious environmental issue and how it connects to skin cancer, plant damage, and ecosystem health.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- Ozone is concentrated in the stratosphere, forming the so called ozone layer.- The question asks which harmful radiation from the sun is blocked by ozone.- We assume standard school level classification of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Concept / Approach:
The sun emits a broad range of electromagnetic radiation, including visible light, infrared, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays. Ultraviolet radiation, particularly UV-B and UV-C, is harmful to living cells and can damage DNA. Ozone molecules in the stratosphere absorb much of this ultraviolet radiation before it reaches the surface of the Earth. This protective function is why the ozone layer is often described as a shield for the biosphere.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Identify the main harmful radiations that can affect living organisms: especially ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays.2. Recall that most high energy X-rays and gamma rays are already largely absorbed by higher layers of the atmosphere and the magnetosphere.3. Remember from environmental science that ozone specifically absorbs UV-B and UV-C rays.4. Link the depletion of ozone with increased ultraviolet radiation at the surface leading to higher skin cancer risk and damage to crops and plankton.5. Conclude that the radiation from which ozone primarily protects the biosphere is ultraviolet rays.

Verification / Alternative check:

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- Infrared rays: Mostly associated with heat; they are not strongly absorbed by ozone and are not the primary cause of DNA damage.- Gamma rays: Extremely energetic but largely blocked by the upper atmosphere and magnetic field, not mainly by the ozone layer.- X-rays: Similar to gamma rays, they are mostly absorbed high above the ozone layer and are not the focus of ozone related discussions.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes confuse the ozone problem with the greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gases mainly trap infrared radiation, whereas ozone protects against ultraviolet radiation. Mixing these concepts results in wrong answers. Remember that ultraviolet radiation is linked with sunburn, skin cancer, and the specific role of stratospheric ozone.

Final Answer:
Ozone protects the biosphere primarily by absorbing harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun.