The ozone in these altitudes is rather spread out though, and its concentration varies in different regions of the planet. This UV radiation helps create and destroy ozone molecules. It is strong enough to break both ozone and oxygen molecules into individual O atoms. This destruction of molecules allows the free O atoms to bond with other oxygen molecules and form more ozone. Because the UV radiation has been absorbed and used to break the ozone's atomic bonds, the ozone has kept that radiation from reaching the surface.
Solar radiation creates and destroys ozone.
A round 1985 scientists working with ozone measurements from the Antarctic started to realize that over the previous decade there had been an alarming decrease in stratospheric ozone concentrations over the South Pole. This was verified by the TOMS instrument aboard NASA's Nimbus-7 satellite. This area of dramatically reduced ozone levels was called the ozone hole . A 3-D look at ozone concentrations over the South Pole. Notice the much lower values at the center.