The atmospheric layer that is immediately above the troposphere and contains most of the Earth's ozone. Here temperature increases upward because of absorption of solar ultraviolet light by ozone. Since ozone is created in sunlight from oxygen, a by-product of photosynthesis, the stratosphere exists because of life on Earth. In turn, the ozone layer allows life to thrive by absorbing harmful solar ultraviolet radiation. The mixing ratio of ozone is largest (10 parts per million by volume) near an altitude of 30 km (18 mi) over the Equator. The distribution of ozone is controlled by solar radiation, temperature, wind, reactive trace chemicals, and volcanic aerosols.