Ozone Depletion - Chemistry Experiments - page 45

September 1981 September 1987

September 1993 September 1999

Figure 3

The dark blue region is Antarctica. The “ozone hole” can be seen
as a purple area around the continent.

ozone layer can potentially cause higher temperatures due to increased
radiation, it is not generally accredited with the increased global
temperatures. Global warming is caused by the greenhouse effect , the
trapping of the Sun's heat by a layer of “greenhouse gases” such as
carbon dioxide and water vapor in the atmosphere. Combustion of fossil
fuels such as petroleum and gasoline produces greenhouse gases.
Global warming has caused the average temperature of the Earth to
increase by a few degrees over the past 100 years. On a global scale, a
few degrees can make a huge difference. The increase in temperature
has the ability to change weather patterns and drastically impact the
organisms on Earth. A few degrees can determine whether the ice caps
in the polar regions will remain solid or melt. Melting ice caps could
cause extreme worldwide flooding along with the loss of Arctic habitats.
Additionally, some organisms such as the coral, which are very sensitive
to temperature changes, can become extinct. Loss of coral reefs would