What protective role does the ozone layer play in the environment?

The ozone layer plays a critical role in the environment primarily by protecting living organisms from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation emitted by the sun. This layer of ozone molecules, situated in the stratosphere, absorbs the majority of the sun's damaging UV rays, particularly UV-B and UV-C types, which can lead to adverse health effects in humans, such as skin cancer, cataracts, and weakened immune systems. Additionally, UV radiation can harm ecosystems, particularly marine life, by disrupting food chains and affecting species viability. Therefore, the ozone layer acts as a shield, helping to maintain the delicate balance necessary for life on Earth.

The other options are related to environmental processes, but they do not pertain to the primary function of the ozone layer. Regulating climate temperature involves various factors like greenhouse gas concentrations, while the filtering of greenhouse gases is primarily handled by the atmosphere as a whole, not specifically by the ozone layer. As for sound pollution, it is not something that the ozone layer addresses. Thus, the protective role of the ozone layer against UV radiation is its most vital contribution to the environment.