Part 4-Import and Graph the Data
In any step, click the Show me link to reveal extra information. If you prefer a printout of the full set of instructions for this part, choose Print from the File menu.
Step 1-Import Results into a Spreadsheet Program
Any spreadsheet program that can produce graphs can be used for this part. The instructions here refer to using Microsoft Excel.
- Start Excel, choose File > Open..., navigate to where you stored your Results file, and click Open.
- If the Text Import Wizard opens, go with the default selections, by clicking Next >, Next >, and Finish to open the file.
Step 2-Graph the Data
- Select (highlight) the ozone hole area measurements in column 2 of your spreadsheet.
- Activate the Chart Wizard by clicking its icon in the Excel toolbar-the icon looks like sparks coming from the end of a wand in front of a document.
- In the list of Chart Types, choose Area and click Next.
- In the next dialog box, you'll see the cell address for the data you selected and the Columns option checked under Series. Click Next >.
- On the next page, enter a title for your graph plus appropriate names for each axis. You may also want to customize other options such as gridlines or data labels.
- When you are pleased with your chart display, click Next >.
- On the last dialog box of the Wizard, place the chart as an object in your Results.txt file and click Finish.
- Save your results file with the chart.
Step 3-Analyze the Data
Examine the graph you produced. Consider the following questions and choose one for follow up study.
- Did the size of the ozone hole increase, decrease, or stay the same over the nine years you analyzed? What might account for the changes?
- How might you go about discovering why one of the years' holes was much smaller than the others? Outline a plan for finding out how that year might have been different from other years.
- Does an ozone hole ever form over the Artic Region? Outline a plan for using TOMS images to look for a hole in the Northern Hemisphere.
