Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 01/06/2008 - 13:11
Forums
South Pole Ozone Changes

Dear Ms. Bergholz,

This is Ian from the School at Columbia University. How does the environment react to the changes in the ozone? How would the changes in the environment affect the wildlife in Antarctica?

 

Mon, 01/07/2008 - 11:08

Elke Bergholz

Hi Ian, I am assuming you mean with less of ozone in the stratosphere what might be the influences on the wildlife in Antarctica. Ozone protects us from the dangerous UV light. We have lost 5 - 10 % of our ozone layer, depending on the area in the world. The Antarctic wild life depends on the plankton in the water around Antarctica. If the growth of plankton (small animals and plants that drift in the water) are influenced by the UV light then the beginning of the food chain is interrupted, eventually influencing all the wildlife in Antarctica. E. Bergholz