Atmosphere Webquest
The Greenhouse Effect
1. Using a search engine, find a website that defines the greenhouse effect.
Paraphrase that definition and write down the web address for the site that you
used to define it.
1. Using the interactive graphic on the right side of this website
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/sci_nat/04/climate_change/html/greenhouse
.stm ), learn how the Earth's greenhouse effect works. You will need to click on
the 'Next' button until you have seen all nine slides. When you are done, create
your own diagram that explains the greenhouse effect.
2. Using this website (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ice/greenhouse.html ) list the
6 major greenhouse gases. What would happen to global temperatures if the
amount of these gases increased or decreased?
The Ozone Layer
Using this website
(http://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/science/ozone_hole.htm ),
scroll down to answer the following questions about the ozone layer:
3. What is the chemical ozone made of?
4. Why is the hole in the ozone layer a problem?
5. Why does the ozone hole form over Antarctica?
6.
During which month does the ozone hole grow largest?
Using the online comic found at this website
(http://www.epa.gov/ozone/science/missoz/misspan.html ), answer the following
questions about the ozone layer and ozone depletion (Use the red arrow to move forward
and the yellow arrow to move back). The questions are in order.
7. Describe the ozone layer (height above the Earth's surface and why it is important
to life on Earth)
8. What chemical is most damaging to the ozone layer and what do we use this
chemical for?
9. Where on Earth is the ozone layer thinning?
10. How does the chlorine in the atmosphere break down the ozone layer?
11. What type of life does the ozone hole first impact? Why are these organisms
important to the entire food chain?
12. What are main impacts of the ozone hole on people?
13. What are the main steps humans can take to prevent further damage to the ozone
layer?