GRAPHING OZONE
Name_________________________________
Part 1 – Graphing the change in the southern ozone layer.
Go to this website:
http://www.exploratorium.edu/learning_studio/ozone/graphing1.html
Follow these directions:
1) Look at each TOMS images of the Earth. Each image shows the southern part of the
Earth.
2) First, look at the point where all the longitude lines converge (in the middle of
Antarctica). This is Location 1. Once you look at this point, look at the color scale
next to the map and estimate the amount of ozone there is. The higher the number
means the more ozone there is.
3) Second, look at the bottom point of South America. This is Location 2. At this point,
look at the color scale next to the map and estimate the amount of ozone there is.
The higher the number means the more ozone there is.
YEAR
OZONE CONCENTRATION IN
OZONE CONCENTRATION IN
LOCATION 1
LOCATION 2
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
Now, make a graph of this data. Make sure that you label each axis of the graph,
describe the units used and give a title to the graph.
Answer these questions:
1) What are the units that the ozone levels are measured in according to the
information presented on the website? ________________________ units
2) On any maps that show ozone levels, describe the meaning of the colors on these
maps (in other words, what colors mean higher ozone levels and what mean lower
ozone levels)?
3) Were ozone levels consistent from year to year at each point? ________________
4) If you had to pick an overall trend in ozone levels, what was the overall trend of
ozone levels for the two locations over this time period – (in other words – did they
tend to increase, decrease, or stay the same?)
5) If you had to say there was an ozone “hole”, where would you say that it
consistently occurs in the world? _________________________________________
6) Name 2 other locations or geographic areas that might also be impacted by lower
levels of ozone in world, based on your map
7) What month were all these images taken during? ____________________________
Why do you think scientists always used the same month in this analysis of ozone?
8) Ozone levels in the upper atmosphere started to be measured in the late 1950s.
Why do you think that there are no images of ozone to view from the 1950s through
1978? Explain why you think this.
PART 2 – Determining how ozone changes over the year.
MONTH
YEAR J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
1957 332
310
299
290
312
315
311
301
S
294
O
320
N
394
D
347
The ozone layer was not well studied in until the late 1950s. Part of the problem with
studying it was that it was in such a high part of the atmosphere, that people did not know
the best way to test and sample it. However, in the late 1950s, a set of scientists starting
measuring the amount of ozone particles in the upper atmosphere.
Graph the following data on the graph paper given. You need to graph the changes in
the ozone levels in a location for each month of the year. The goal is to see if ozone is
consistent through the year. Once you plot each point, connect each dot.
1) How would you describe ozone levels through the year (was it fairly consistent
through the year OR was there a season that distinctly saw more or less ozone)?
Now…on the same graph that you graphed the 1957 data, graph the data for 1987. Use
a different color or line style to indicate this.
MONTH
YEAR J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
1987 286
264
271
265
235
244
251
254
182
150
188
287
Now .. on the same graph that you graphed the 1957 and 1987 data, graph the data for
1996 in a different color or line style.
MONTH
YEAR J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
1996 278
265
245
242
216
224
230
172
155
149
181
260
Once you are done with the graphs, answer these questions:
2) What happened to the lines from 1957 to 1996 for ozone levels over the year?
3) Did the ozone levels stay the same, go up, or go down from the time of 1957 to 1987
and 1996? How can you tell this from your graph?
4) Now, just look at the 1987 and 1996 lines. How would you describe ozone levels
through the year (was it fairly consistent through the year OR was there a season
that distinctly saw more or less ozone)?
5) What three consecutive months of the year in 1987 and 1996 would you say had a
distinctly different pattern of ozone that is notable compared to other months?
6) An ozone hole is not seen when the temperatures are consistently warm/hot. So,
what season will you not see an ozone hole? ___________________________
7) The ozone hole is at its worst during the season when the environment is starting to
slowly warm up and get increasing amounts of sunlight each day. What season do
we call this?: ____________________________________
8) Looking at the graphs of 1987 and 1996, what three months have the lowest levels
of ozone in the southern hemisphere?
9) So, these three months you just identified in #8 are when ozone depletion is at its
worst, which relates to the season mentioned in #7. What does this mean about the
relationship of seasons between the northern and southern hemisphere?
10) Is the ozone hole a year-round issue in the southern hemisphere or not? Explain
your answer.
11) Look in your notes if you need help in answering this question. State two
consequences of ozone depletion to animals and one consequence to plants.