Why are holes in Earth's ozone layer a problem?

Question

anonymous · Answer

PLEASE HELP!!!! :(

anonymous · Answer

They add pollution to the air.
They enlarge Earth's atmosphere.
They allow dangerous rays from the sun to reach Earth's surface.
They allow dangerous chemicals to escape into the atmosphere.

aroub · Answer

They allow dangerous rays from the sun to reach Earth's surface.

anonymous · Answer

ok thnx!!

trancenova · Answer

Haha, yes, basically the ozone layer "prevents most harmful UVB wavelengths (280–315 nm) of ultraviolet light (UV light) from passing through the Earth's atmosphere" (in the words of Wikipedia). So the hole means an increase of UV light passing to the areas below - meaning basically everything under the hole receives an extra does of UV light. Down south of where I live there is a part of the hole in the ozone, you get sun burnt no matter the weather in about 10 minutes. Read about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone_depletion