Depletion of the ozone layer can increase the reaching of which radiation to Earth’s surface?

Correct answer: Ultraviolet radiation

Direct answer: A, ultraviolet radiation. Ozone in the stratosphere absorbs a substantial part of incoming ultraviolet radiation, especially wavelengths that can damage living tissues. This absorption acts like a protective filter. When the ozone layer becomes thinner, its filtering capacity is reduced, so a greater amount of ultraviolet radiation can reach Earth’s surface. Excess ultraviolet exposure can harm skin and eyes and can damage plants and other organisms. Option B is wrong because ozone depletion is not described as an increase in infrared radiation only; infrared energy has different sources and atmospheric interactions. Option C is wrong because radio waves are not the radiation specifically screened by stratospheric ozone in this context. Option D is wrong because sound is a mechanical wave that needs a medium and is not solar radiation filtered by ozone. Memory cue: ozone is a UV shield—less ozone means more UV can pass through.