Which layer of the Earth's atmosphere is responsible for protecting life on Earth by blocking harmful terrestrial solar radiation?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 3 i.e. Stratosphere.
The Stratosphere is the layer of the Earth’s atmosphere responsible for protecting life by blocking harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun, thanks to the ozone layer present within it.
The other layers have different roles:
The Troposphere is where weather occurs and contains most of the air we breathe. The Mesosphere burns up meteors entering Earth. The Thermosphere absorbs high-energy X-rays and UV radiation, helping satellites orbit, but does not primarily shield life from UV rays like the stratosphere.