Analyzing the Antarctic Ozone Hole

Kristina Piccirilli, Lesley University, kpicciri@lesley.edu, Author

LuAnn Dahlman, Center for Science Teaching and Learning at TERC, luann_dahlman@terc.edu, Author

Tamara Shapiro Ledley, Center for Science Teaching and Learning at TERC, Tamara_Ledley@terc.edu, Author

In this chapter, users examine satellite images that show how much ozone is in the atmosphere over the Southern Hemisphere. They interpret the images to identify the ozone "hole" that develops over this region every year during the Southern Hemisphere's spring, and compare its size from year to year.

Using freely available image analysis software, ImageJ, users quantify the area of the Antarctic ozone hole each October from 1996 to 2004. Finally, they bring their measurements into a spreadsheet program and create a graph to document changes in the size of the ozone hole.