Air Pollution © The GlobalEd 2 Project

Types of Air Pollution Smog Acid rain Fossil fuel exhaust © The GlobalEd 2 Project Photo credit: Peter Essick, National Geographic

What Makes Up Air Pollution? Air pollution is made up of solid particles and chemicals. Natural processes impacting the atmosphere include volcanoes, biological decay, and dust storms. Plants, trees, and grass release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as methane, into the air. © The GlobalEd 2 Project

Human-made Air Pollution Carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. The largest source of human-made pollution is the burning of fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and gas, in our homes, factories, and cars. © The GlobalEd 2 Project

Air Pollution and Global Climate Change Some types of air pollution (increase in green house gases) cause global warming to speed up. Others (aerosols) cause global warming to slow down by creating a temporary cooling effect for a few days or weeks. Source: © The GlobalEd 2 Project

Overall Impact of Air Pollutants Tiny aerosols cause about half as much cooling as greenhouse gases cause warming. Source: © The GlobalEd 2 Project