The four main layers of the atmosphere are classified according to changes in temperature. These layers are the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere, and the thermosphere. So cooling due to ozone depletion is simply reduced heating as a consequence of reduced absorption of ultra-violet radiation. Ozone also acts as a greenhouse gas in the lower stratosphere. Less ozone means less absorption of infra-red heat radiation and therefore less heat trapping. Temperature in the stratosphere rises with increasing altitude, because the ozone layer absorbs the greater part of the solar ultraviolet radiation. The ozone layer is an absorbing agent that protects life on Earth. The pattern of temperature increase with height in the stratosphere is the result of solar heating as ultraviolet radiation in the wavelength range of 0.200 to 0.242 micrometre dissociates diatomic oxygen (O2). Temperature decreases with altitude because the troposphere is warmed from below, through absorption and re-emission of incoming solar radiation by the Earth's surface, rather than being warmed from above by incoming solar radiation.

The increased temperature in this layer is due mainly to UV absorption by various chemical species, including ozone and molecular oxygen present in the stratosphere. Maximum heating takes place in the upper part of the stratosphere. Because of the stable air, pollutant mixing is suppressed within this layer. Temperature in the stratosphere rises with increasing altitude, because the ozone layer absorbs the greater part of the solar ultraviolet radiation. As the density of the gases in this layer decrease with height, the air becomes thinner. Therefore, the temperature in the troposphere also decreases with height in response. As one climbs higher, the temperature drops from an average around 62°F (17°C) to -60°F (-51°C) at the tropopause. The increased temperature in this layer is due mainly to UV absorption by various chemical species, including ozone and molecular oxygen present in the stratosphere. Maximum heating takes place in the upper part of the stratosphere. Because of the stable air, pollutant mixing is suppressed within this layer. Stratospheric ozone is beneficial to life because it absorbs ultraviolet radiation that is biologically damaging. Absorption of UV energy heats the atmosphere and is responsible for the temperature inversion observed in the stratosphere. Ozone is a chemically active molecule and is considered a corrosive gas. The atmosphere is comprised of layers based on temperature. These layers are the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere and thermosphere. A further region at about 500 km above the Earth's surface is called the exosphere. From lowest to highest, the major layers are the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere. Earth's troposphere extends from Earth's surface to, on average; about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) in height, with its height lower at Earth's poles and higher at the equator. The layers from closest to the Earth's surface to further away are the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere. The temperature increases at first then decreases, and then begins to increase again through the different layers. Temperature increases as gain altitude in the stratosphere and the thermosphere. Temperature decreases as gain altitude in the troposphere and mesosphere. Air temperature varies in complicated ways with altitude.