Physics of stratospheric ozone and UV-B radiation

To help understand the role of ozone in protecting life on earth, a brief review is presented of the processes which determine the 'normal' distribution of ozone in the stratosphere and its variations with latitude, with elevation and with time of year, Next, the absorption of UV radiation by ozone is discussed, including the dependence of the surface exposure to UV radiation on solar elevation, ozone amount and cloud amount.