Scientific Evidence of the Ozone Hole
Many individuals have a difficult
time believing that a hole in the ozone layer actually exists. Only small temperature changes have been
observed, so individuals can’t feel a difference. The changes cannot be seen with the naked eye, nor can they be
felt, heard, smelled, nor anything else.
So how do we know that a hole in the ozone layer exists, or even 
why it is a problem?
Satellite Data
After a decrease in ozone
was first discovered in the 1970’s, NASA began taking daily measurements of the
global amounts of ozone in the atmosphere using Total Ozone Mapping
Spectroscopy, or TOMS. NASA began by
using ground based Doppler measurements, and has since launched several
satellites to take the measurements, and has made all of this data available
online to the general public. Scientists have noticed that, over time, the levels of ozone have
decreased, and the levels of chlorine compounds have increased. According to one website, because of the data
that NASA scientists have collected, “The link between the long-term build-up of
chlorine and the decline of ozone in the upper stratosphere has been firmly
established” (http://www.al.noaa.gov/WWWHD/pubdocs/Assessment98/executive-summary.html#A).
The TOMS data is very high quality data that has
allowed scientists to closely link CFC’s to a depleted ozone layer.
BLAH BLAH BLAH time for bed
work more tomorrow… Thanks, Erin- you
rock.
NOTE: I didn’t get to finish writing the section
for this picture, and what I did write is crap. I’ll get there eventually.
I’m just as delinquent as the rest of ‘em. Sort of.
