Ozone Depletion Research Paper

BACKGROUND

Many scientists believe the ozone layer in the earth’s stratosphere is being depleted due to the use (and release into the atmosphere) of man-made chemicals. The resulting “holes” in the ozone layer allow dangerous levels of ultraviolet radiation to penetrate to the earth’s surface. The degree of severity and the solutions to this situation remain topics of debate.

BROWSE FOR BOOKS ON THE SHELF USING THESE CALL NUMBERS

363.3

363.7–363.7392

LOOK UNDER THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS IN THE CATALOG (CARD OR COMPUTER)

Ozone layer

Ozone layer depletion

Chlorofluorocarbons—Environmental aspects

USE PAMPHLET FILE (ALSO CALLED VERTICAL FILE) UNDER THE HEADINGS

Ozone

Air pollution

REFERENCE MATERIALS THAT MAY HELP (BOOKS OR CD-ROMS)

CQ Researcher, April 3, 1992.

McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology, 1992.

The 1994 Information Please Environmental Atlas. World Resources Institute, 1994.

1994 Earth Journal: Environmental Almanac and Resource Directory, Buzzworm Books, 1994.

Today’s Science on File. Facts on File.

General encyclopedias

PERIODICAL INDEXES TO SEARCH (BOOKS OR CD-ROMS)

EBSCO Magazine Article Summaries

InfoTrac

NewsBank and other newspaper indexes

Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature

SIRS (Social Issues Resources Series)

WILSONDISC

ONLINE DATABASES TO SEARCH

America Online

CompuServe

Dialog
Internet

Prodigy

KEY WORDS AND DESCRIPTORS FOR PERIODICAL INDEX AND ONLINE SEARCHES

Ozone

Atmospheric ozone

Ozone layer depletion

Ozonization

Air pollution

VIDEOTAPES ON THIS TOPIC

Chemistry: Ozone Blanket in the Air. Allegro Productions, 1991.

Hole in the Sky: The Ozone Layer. Films for the Humanities and Sciences, 1993.

Spaceship Earth: Our Global Environment. The Video Project, 1991.

NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO CONTACT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Environmental Defense Fund, 257 Park Ave., S., New York, NY 10010.

Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., S.W., Washington, DC 20460.

World Resources Institute, 1709 New York Ave., N.W., Ste. 700, Washington, DC 20006.

SUGGESTIONS FOR NARROWING THIS TOPIC

Investigate the possible effects of ozone depletion on the ocean.

How do the eruptions of volcanoes effect ozone depletion?

Research ozone–depleting chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons and halons.

Are warnings about ozone depletion exaggerated? Discuss.

Comment on the possible connection between ozone depletion and skin cancer.

SUGGESTIONS FOR RELATED TOPICS

Acid rain

Air pollution

Greenhouse effect

Ozone as a pollutant

Volcanoes

This RESEARCH TOPIC GUIDE is intended to help the library user find information and materials on a particular topic in many sources throughout the library. Resources on this topic are not limited to those described and availability will depend upon the individual library. Feel free to ask a librarian for assistance.