Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson 015 Atmospheric Science & Air Pollution Ch 13 Environment & Ecology
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson “Congestion Charging Program” in London air pollution killed 4,000 Green Bld.
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Reduced traffic Traffic delays cut by 25% Travel speed increased by 30% Bus use increase by 40%
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson The atmosphere Atmosphere: the thin layer of gases that surrounds Earth - Provides us with oxygen - Absorbs solar radiation and moderates climate - Burns up incoming meteors - Transports and recycles water and nutrients - 78% nitrogen gas, 21% oxygen gas, 1% other gases Human activity is changing the amounts of some gases. - Carbon dioxide, methane, ozone The atmosphere has several layers.
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson The first two layers of the atmosphere Troposphere: bottommost layer; 11 km (7 mi) high - Air for breathing, weather - Temperature declines with altitude Stratosphere: km (7-31 mi) above sea level - Drier and less dense, with little vertical mixing - Temperature warms with altitude - Contains UV radiation-blocking ozone, km (10-19 mi) above sea level
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson The atmosphere’s four layers
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Solar energy causes air to circulate Convective circulation Weather Climate
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Winter solstice Dec. 22 Sun vertical at 23.5 o S Winter solstice Dec. 22 Sun vertical at 23.5 o S Autumnal equinox Sep. 23 Sun vertical at equator Summer solstice June 21 Sun vertical at 23.5 o N Vernal equinox March 21 Sun vertical at equator Northern Hemisphere Names
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Earth further from sun Earth closer to sun
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Convection cell model Non-rotating Earth
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Add rotation and add landmasses unequal heating and cooling of the Earth
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Physical properties of the atmosphere: Density Warm, low density air rises Cool, high density air sinks Creates circular- moving loop of air (convection cell)
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Physical properties of the atmosphere: Water vapor Cool air cannot hold much water vapor, so is typically dry Warm air can hold more water vapor, so is typically moist Water vapor decreases the density of air
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Physical properties of the atmosphere: Pressure A column of cool, dense air causes high pressure at the surface, which will lead to sinking air A column of warm, less dense air causes low pressure at the surface, which will lead to rising air
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson ITCZ intertropical convergence zone= doldrums Low pressure, wet climate High pressure, dry climate Low pressure, wet climate 30 o 60 o 90 o 0 o High pressure, dry climate
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson A)Idealized winds generated by pressure gradient and Coriolis Force. B)Actual wind patterns owing to land mass distribution..
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Storms pose hazards Hurricanes: formed when winds rush into areas of low pressure where warm, moist tropical air is rising - Called cyclones or typhoons in the Southern Hemisphere Tornadoes: formed when a mass of warm air meets cold air, setting a powerful convective current in motion - The spinning funnel of rising air has winds up to 500 km/hr (310 mph). Atmospheric conditions can create life-threatening storms.
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Hurricanes in Hawaii Hurricane season- J une 1 to November 30 Hurricanes approach from both east and south Hawaii rarely gets hit Hawaii is subtropical
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Hurricane Path in Hawaii
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Hurricane Iniki 1992
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Outdoor air pollution Air pollutants: gases and particulate material added to the atmosphere - Can affect climate or harm people or other organisms Air pollution: the release of air pollutants Outdoor (ambient) air pollution: pollution outside - Has recently decreased due to government policy and improved technologies in developed countries - Developing countries and urban areas still have significant problems.
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Terrestrial Sources. - Unsustainable farming and grazing, erosion and desertification Volcanoes Fires - Clearing forests for agriculture Natural sources pollute: dust storms Kīlauea
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Legislation addresses pollution The Clean Air Act of Provides funds for pollution-control research - Sets standards for air quality, limits on emissions - Allows citizens to sue parties violating the standards Starting in 1995, businesses and utilities could buy, sell, or trade permits for pollutants. - Each year, the amount of allowable pollution decreases.
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson The EPA sets standards Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets nationwide standards for pollutant emissions. The EPA and states focus on six criteria pollutants. - Criteria pollutants: pollutants judged to pose great threats to human health
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Three criteria pollutants Carbon monoxide (CO) Sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) Nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 )
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Criteria pollutants: tropospheric ozone Tropospheric ozone (O 3 ): a colorless gas with a strong odor - A secondary pollutant created from interactions of sunlight, heat, nitrogen oxides, and volatile carbons - A major component of smog - Poses a health risk as a result of its instability - Most frequently exceeds the EPA standard
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Criteria pollutants: particulate matter and lead Mexico City 1986 Mexico City 2014
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): Carbon-containing chemicals emitted by vehicle engines and industrial processes that can react to produce ozone
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Volatile organic compounds (VOCs):
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Air pollution has decreased since 1970
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Air pollution has decreased since 1970
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Reasons for the decline in U.S. pollution Cleaner burning fuels Scrubbers Phase out lead gas
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson The Clean Air Act Addresses emissions of hazardous air pollutants Toxic air pollutants: substances known to cause cancer, reproductive defects, or neurological, development, immune system, or respiratory problems The Clean Air Act identifies 188 toxic pollutants. - Emissions decreased 35% between 1990 and 2002.
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson The Clean Air Act Regulate air pollution & prevention Ozone protection Prevent significant deterioration of air quality Regulate motor and aircraft vehicle emissions Clean fuel vehicles Permits
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Burning fossil fuels produces industrial smog Coal factories in China
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Photochemical (brown air) smog
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Industrial smogPhotochemical smog
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Synthetic chemicals deplete stratospheric ozone Ozone layer: ozone in the lower stratosphere - Blocks incoming damaging ultraviolet radiation Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs): chemicals that attack ozone - Releases chlorine atoms that split ozone
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson The hole in the ozone Oct Sep. 2013
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Size of the Antarctic ozone hole Average Area: millions sq km North America Antarctica Prediction: 50 years to return to 1980 size
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson The Montreal Protocol addressed ozone depletion Montreal Protocol: 180 nations agreed to cut CFC production in half - Today, production and use of ozone- depleting chemicals has decreased 95%. - The ozone layer is beginning to recover. Challenges still face us. - CFCs will remain in the stratosphere for a long time.
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Acid deposition is another transboundary issue Acidic deposition: the deposition of acid, or acid-forming pollutants, from the atmosphere onto Earth’s surface - Acid rain: precipitation of acid - Atmospheric deposition: the wet or dry deposition on land of pollutants
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Sources of acid deposition Originates from burning fossil fuels that release sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides - These compounds react with water to form sulfuric and nitric acids.
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Effects of acid deposition Nutrients are leached from topsoil. Metal ions (aluminum, zinc, etc.) are converted into soluble forms that pollute water. Damages agricultural crops Affects surface water and kills fish Widespread tree mortality Erodes stone buildings, corrodes cars, erases writing on tombstones New technologies such as scrubbers have helped, but deposition’s effects are worse than predicted.
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Effects of acid deposition
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson pH of precipitation in the U.S. Many regions of acidification are downwind of major sources of pollution.
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Developing nations and air pollution China Beijing Olympic Stadium
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Indoor air pollution Indoor air contains higher concentrations of pollutants than outdoor air. - 6,000 people die per day from indoor air pollution. The average U.S. citizen spends 90% of the time indoors. - Exposed to synthetic materials that exude volatile chemicals
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Indoor air pollution in the developing world Comes from burning wood, charcoal, dung, crop wastes - Homes have little to no ventilation. Fuel burning pollution causes an estimated 1.6 million deaths per year. - Soot and carbon monoxide
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson Indoor air pollution in the developed world Tobacco and radon are the most dangerous indoor pollutants in the developed world chemicals identified
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson QUESTION: Review The major component of Earth’s atmosphere is: a)Nitrogen gas b)Oxygen gas c)Argon gas d)Water vapor e)Ozone
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson QUESTION: Review Ozone in the _________ is a pollutant, but in the ______ is vital for life. a)Stratosphere, troposphere b)Troposphere, stratosphere c)Troposphere, tropopause d)Stratosphere, thermosphere e)Atmosphere, thermopile
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson QUESTION: Review According to the Coriolis effect: a)North-south air currents appear to blow straight north and south b)North-south air currents appear to bend slightly c)East-west air currents appear to blow straight north and south d)East-west air currents appear to bend slightly e)The Earth seems to spin faster at its poles
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson QUESTION: Review If you were in the United States, and saw the wind rushing into an area of low pressure with rising moist tropical air, you would be seeing: a)A cyclone b)A typhoon c)A hurricane d)A tsunami e)The end of days
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson QUESTION: Review The Clean Air Act does all of the following EXCEPT: a)Allows higher levels of emissions of some criteria pollutants b)Provides funds for pollution control research c)Allows citizens to sue violators d)Sets standards for air quality e)Allows businesses to buy, sell, or trade pollution permits
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson QUESTION: Review Which criteria pollutant is colorless, odorless, and binds to hemoglobin? a)Sulfur dioxide b)Nitrogen dioxide c)Tropospheric ozone d)Carbon monoxide e)Smog
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson QUESTION: Review The Montreal Protocol addressed: a)Global warming and was not successful b)Criteria pollutants and was successful c)Ozone depletion and was not successful d)Ozone depletion and was successful e)Acid deposition and was successful
Copyright © 2009 Benjamin Cummings is an imprint of Pearson QUESTION: Interpreting Graphs and Data Which conclusion can you draw from this graph? a)Even though population and energy consumption increased, emissions have decreased. b)Along with population decreases, emissions have decreased. c)People have increased emissions, but only slightly. d)All factors show major decreases.