The No Zone of Ozone
Students examine the Earth's ozone and the issue of global warmingCopyright https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Sun#/media/File:Giant_prominence_on_the_sun_erupted.jpg
Students explore the causes and effects of the Earth's ozone holes through discussion and an interactive simulation. In an associated literacy activity, students learn how to tell a story in order to make a complex topic (such as global warming or ozone holes) easier for a reader to grasp.
Once our awareness was heightened about the human-created pollutants that cause the depletion of the Earth's protective ozone layer, engineers began to address the problem. They invented new technologies and/or re-designed old technologies to entirely avoid producing harmful chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Pervasive changes to design, manufacturing processes, regulations and practices have reduced U.S. CFC emissions dramatically. Some changes included new types of refrigerator coolants and the elimination of many aerosols. The modern engineer always keeps long-term sustainability in mind as a design objective.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Describe the benefits and disadvantages of ozone.
- Understand and explain the different processes that destroy ozone in the Earth's atmosphere.
- Develop an understanding of the global trend towards ozone depletion and recovery.
- Explain how engineers are trying to help reduce ozone depletion.