Part 4—Import and Graph the Data

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.

  1. Launch Excel by clicking its icon on the dock (Mac) or Start bar (PC).
  2. Choose File > Open..., navigate to where you stored your Results file, and click Open.
  3. If the Text Import Wizard opens, go with the default selections, by clicking Next >, Next >, and Finish to open the file.
  4. Change the header of column A to Year, and change the values in the column from 1-10 to years, 1996-2005. Note: you may need to change the format of the cells to "text" in order to enter the Years.

Step 2 – Graph the Data

  1. Select (highlight) the ozone hole area measurements in columns A and B of your spreadsheet.
  2. Choose Insert > Chart.
  3. In the list of Chart Types, choose Area.
  4. Select your chart, click the toolbox icon to open it, and then use the Chart Options menu to enter a title for your graph plus appropriate names for each axis. You may also want to customize other options such as grid lines or data labels.
  5. When you are pleased with your chart display, close the Toolbox.
  6. 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 Arctic Region? Outline a plan for using TOMS images to look for a hole in the Northern Hemisphere.