Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 12/26/2007 - 06:44
Forums
South Pole Ozone Changes

what was your favorite part about you expedition?

did you see many different animals? did you enjoy yourself and would go back?

dose global warming affect the ozone changes? and if so how? (if you have any more information about global warmng and the
ozone layer i would really appreciate it?)

Wed, 01/02/2008 - 10:53

Elke Bergholz

Hi, thank you for your questions, and if you can, please introduce yourself! 1. There is no single favorite part of the expedition. I absolutely love being in this climate with ice and snow,  the science is great, and the peolpe of all departments are most amazing.  2. No, we do not see any animlas here at the South Pole because we are 800 miles from any water.
3. Yes, I am enjoying myself very much. This is my second time at the South Pole and I would go back again with no hesitation.
4. Global warming and ozone depletion are two different concepts. Global warming is caused by the warming of the atmosphere due to the trapped greenhouse gases such as CO2. Thse gases do not allow the heat of the atmosphere to escape. Ozone depletion is caused by CFC's. The Montreal Protocol signed in 1987 does not allow the use of CFC's anymore except by  countries like India and China, unfortunately. We are now using the replacement CFC's. The confusing part is that CFC's are also greenhause gases, but CO2 is not a ozone depleter. In other words. Global warming does not affect the ozone changes.
If you want to know more about the atmospheric gases, please go to the website of the Global Monitoring Division of NOAA ( National Oceanographic Atmospheric Administration) the research group I am working here at the South Pole:
http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/
Good luck in your effort to improve our environment.
Elke Bergholz