Name _____TEACHER KEY
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_____ Period _______ Date ______________
Chapter 13 Environmental Science – THE OZONE SHIELD CHART
Directions: Fill in the information from the classroom or online chart.
Environmental Science Standard and element:
SEV5. Students will recognize that human beings are part of the global ecosystem and will evaluate the
effects of human activities and technology on ecosystems.
e.) Describe the effects and potential implications of pollution and resource depletion on the environment at
the local and global levels (e.g. air and water pollution, solid waste disposal, depletion of the
stratospheric ozone, global warming, and land uses).
STUDENT CHECKLIST
1.) Put the chart in your Science Notebook behind the Chapter 13 Word Study after it has
been checked.
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2.) The Ozone Shield Chart was accurate and complete with no abbreviated information.
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3.) The Information was written neatly and large and dark enough to be easily seen.
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4.) All information was complete with no grammar or spelling errors.
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Ozone Shield - The ozone layer is an area in the stratosphere that is
approximately 20 to 30 km or 12 to 19 miles above the Earth's surface. Ozone
found at surface level is toxic to animal life. However, in the stratosphere it is
necessary for life on Earth because it absorbs most of the ultraviolet (UV) light
from the sun.
Human activities are causing the Ozone Shield to disappear.
Chlorofluorocarbons released in the production and use of manufactured
products destroy ozone molecules in the air. It may take as long as 30 years
for CFC's to reach the stratosphere and destroy natural ozone. Ozone levels
over the polar regions have been decreasing for several decades.
Stratospheric ozone (O3) depletion is an environmental problem of global
proportions. A 90% increase in skin cancer in Americans over the past 30
years has been largely attributed to ozone depletion. Moreover, O3 depletion
increases the incidence of cataracts and may weaken the human immune
system. In Australia, which is close to the Antarctic ozone hole, children are
required by law to wear hats and long-sleeved shirts when outdoors as
protection against UV irradiation that is normally absorbed by stratospheric
O3.