IB Environmental systems and societies 6.2 Climate Change - Causes and Impact Questionbank

The table below shows the average total column ozone levels (measured in Dobson Units, DU) at two different monitoring stations between 1970 and 2010.

(a) Using the data provided for Halley Bay, calculate the percentage decrease in ozone levels between 1970 and 1990.

(b) State one negative impact on terrestrial plant life caused by the increased levels of UV radiation resulting from ozone depletion.

(c) Explain the chemical process by which halogenated organic gases, such as CFCs, deplete the stratospheric ozone layer.

(d) Describe how the Montreal Protocol has acted as an effective international management strategy for protecting the ozone layer.

(c) To what extent should the management of stratospheric ozone depletion be prioritised compared with other global atmospheric issues?

Table 1: Environmental properties of selected refrigerant compounds

(a) State the specific chemical element found in CFCs and HCFCs that is primarily responsible for the catalytic destruction of stratospheric ozone.

(c) Identify one way in which increased UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface can impact the productivity of terrestrial ecosystems.

(d) Evaluate the use of HFCs as a replacement for CFCs as a strategy for managing global atmospheric pollution.

(a) Outline the role of stratospheric ozone in protecting life on Earth from UV radiation and describe how a steady-state ozone concentration is maintained in the stratosphere.

(b) Explain how human activities can disrupt the natural steady state of stratospheric ozone and evaluate the effectiveness of one international response.

(b) With reference to Table 1, describe the trends in Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) and Global Warming Potential (GWP) as technology transitioned from CFCs to HFCs.