human
Why does the ozone layer protect us from harmful UV rays?
assistant
The ozone layer protects us from harmful UV rays by absorbing them. When UV radiation reaches the earth's surface, it is broken down into three different wavelengths of light: UVA, UVB, and UVC. UVA radiation is the most abundant form of sunlight reaching the Earth’s surface and can penetrate deep into our skin, causing damage to DNA and other cellular structures. UVB radiation is more intense than UVA but less abundant, and can cause sunburn. UVC radiation is the shortest wavelength of sunlight that can reach the Earth’s surface and is completely absorbed by the ozone layer before it reaches the ground.