1. Air Resources
Mancheski 10-11

2. STRUCTURE AND SCIENCE OF THE ATMOSPHERE
The atmosphere consists of several layers with different temperatures, pressures, and compositions.
Figure 19-2

3. STRUCTURE AND SCIENCE OF THE ATMOSPHERE
The atmosphere’s innermost layer (troposphere) is made up mostly of nitrogen and oxygen, with smaller amounts of water vapor and CO2.
Ozone in the atmosphere’s second layer (stratosphere) filters out most of the sun’s UV radiation that is harmful to us and most other species.

4. Core Case Study Blowing in the Wind: A Story of Connections
Wind connects most life on earth.
Keeps tropics from being unbearably hot.
Prevents rest of world from freezing.
Figure 5-1

6. CLIMATE: A BRIEF INTRODUCTION
Weather is a local area’s short-term physical conditions such as temperature and precipitation.
Climate is a region’s average weather conditions over a long time.
Latitude and elevation help determine climate.

7. Earth’s Current Climate Zones
Figure 5-2

9. Solar Energy and Global Air Circulation: Distributing Heat
Global air circulation is affected by the uneven heating of the earth’s surface by solar energy, seasonal changes in temperature and precipitation.
Figure 5-3

10. Coriolis Effect
Global air circulation is affected by the rotation of the earth on its axis.
Figure 5-4

11. Convection Currents
Global air circulation is affected by the properties of air water, and land.
Figure 5-5

12. Convection Cells
Heat and moisture are distributed over the earth’s surface by vertical currents, which form six giant convection cells at different latitudes.
Figure 5-6

13. Ocean Currents: Distributing Heat and Nutrients
Ocean currents influence climate by distributing heat from place to place and mixing and distributing nutrients.
Figure 5-7

15. Look at S 38 in your text book – your group will be assigned one of the following and will need to present it to class:
Warm front and cold front
High pressure and low pressure
El Nino and La Nina
Tornado and Tropical Cyclone

16. Core Case Study: When Is a Lichen Like a Canary?
Lichens can warn us of bad air because they absorb it as a source of nourishment.
Figure 19-1

17. Core Case Study: When Is a Lichen Like a Canary?
Some lichen species are sensitive to specific air-polluting chemicals.
After Chernobyl, more than 70,000 reindeer had to be killed because they ate highly radioactive lichens.
Because lichens are widespread, long-lived, and anchored in place, they can help track pollution to its source.

18. AIR POLLUTION
Some primary air pollutants may react with one another or with other chemicals in the air to form secondary air pollutants.
Figure 19-3

19. Most suspended particles H2O2 O3 PANs
Primary Pollutants CO
CO2
Secondary Pollutants
SO2 NO
NO2
Most hydrocarbons
SO3
HNO3
H3SO4
Most suspended particles
H2O2 O3
PANs
Most NO3– and SO42– salts
Sources
Natural
Stationary
Figure 19.3
Natural capital degradation: sources and types of air pollutants. Human inputs of air pollutants may come from mobile sources (such as cars) and stationary sources (such as industrial and power plants). Some primary air pollutants may react with one another or with other chemicals in the air to form secondary air pollutants.
Mobile
Fig. 19-3, p. 442

20. Major Air Pollutants Poster
Create a poster that highlights the 6 major air pollutants. With you in the center, draw lines in 6 different directions all to different major air pollutants. Under each air pollutant, include the name, a picture of something specific to you that relates to that pollutant with a caption, a brief description of that pollutant and the effects of that pollutant. Your poster should be colorful and easy to read and understand.

21. Air Pollution in the Past
Read “Bad Old Days” on page 443

22. Major Air Pollutants ______________________________
Most are emitted by the leaves of many plants and methane.
About two thirds of global methane emissions comes from human sources.
Other components include industrial solvents such as trichlorethylene (TCE), benzene, and vinyl chloride.
Long-term exposure to benzene can cause cancer, blood disorders, and immune system damage.

23. Major Air Pollutants __________________________:
Is a highly reactive gas that is a major component of photochemical smog.
It can
Cause and aggravate respiratory illness.
Can aggravate heart disease.
Damage plants, rubber in tires, fabrics, and paints.

24. Major Air Pollutants _____________________:
Forms from the high-combustion temperatures in automobile engines and coal-burning plants; and can also form from lightening and certain soil bacteria.
Reacts with water vapor in the air to form components of acid deposition and can damage trees, soils, and aquatic life.
Irritates the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs; aggravates respiratory problems

25. Major Air Pollutants _________________:
A highly toxic gas that forms during the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing materials (fossil fuels, forests, grasslands, tobacco smoke, open fires).
Reacts with hemoglobin in RBCs and reduces the ability of blood to transport oxygen to body cells and tissues; in another form it is a heat absorbing gas.
93% of this pollutant found in the troposphere occurs as a result of nutrient cycling; 7% human activities
It is not regulated as a pollutant under the U.S. Clean Air Act.

26. Major Air Pollutants _____________________________:
Consists of a variety of solid particles and liquid droplets small and light enough to remain suspended in the air.
The most harmful forms are fine particles
According to the EPA, it is responsible for irritating the respiratory system, and even about 60,000 premature deaths a year in the U.S (this includes mutations and cancer caused by toxic versions).

27. Major Air Pollutants ______________________________:
About one-third in the troposphere occurs naturally through the nutrient cycle.
Two-thirds come from human sources, mostly combustion of coal and from oil refining and smelting of ores.
In the atmosphere, it can be converted to components of acid deposition.

28. Major Air Pollutants Radon (Rn):
Is a naturally occurring radioactive gas found in some types of soil and rock.
It can seep into homes and buildings sitting above such deposits.
Long-term exposure can result in lung cancer.

29. Case Study: South Asia’s Massive Brown Cloud
A huge dark brown cloud of industrial smog, caused by coal-burning in countries such as China and India, stretches over much of southeastern Asia.
In areas beneath the cloud, photosynthesis is reduced interfering with crop development.
Fine particles and droplets in the cloud appear to be changing regional climates (including rainfall).
May have contributed to floods in 2002 and 2005 which killed thousands of people.

30. Sunlight plus Cars Equals Photochemical Smog
Photochemical smog is a mixture of air pollutants formed by the reaction of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic hydrocarbons under the influence of sunlight.

31. Sunlight plus Cars Equals Photochemical Smog
Mexico City is one of the many cities in sunny, warm, dry climates with many motor vehicles that suffer from photochemical smog.
Figure 19-4

32. Factors Influencing Levels of Outdoor Air Pollution
Outdoor air pollution can be reduced by:
settling out, precipitation, sea spray, winds, and chemical reactions.
Outdoor air pollution can be increased by:
urban buildings (slow wind dispersal of pollutants), mountains (promote temperature inversions), and high temperatures (promote photochemical reactions).

33. Temperature Inversions
Cold, cloudy weather in a valley surrounded by mountains can trap air pollutants (left).
Areas with sunny climate, light winds, mountains on three sides and an ocean on the other (right) are susceptible to inversions.
Figure 19-5

34. ACID DEPOSITION
Sulfur dioxides, nitrogen oxides, and particulates can react in the atmosphere to produce acidic chemicals that can travel long distances before returning to the earth’s surface.
Tall smokestacks reduce local air pollution but can increase regional air pollution.

35. ACID DEPOSITION
Acid deposition consists of rain, snow, dust, or gas with a pH lower than 5.6.
Figure 19-6

36. Lakes in deep soil high in limestone are buffered
Wind
Transformation to sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and nitric acid (HNO3)
Windborne ammonia gas and particles of cultivated soil partially neutralize acids and form dry sulfate and nitrate salts
Wet acid depostion (droplets of H2SO4 and HNO3 dissolved in rain and snow)
Nitric oxide (NO)
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) and NO
Dry acid deposition (sulfur dioxide gas and particles of sulfate and nitrate salts)
Acid fog
Farm
Lakes in shallow soil low in limestone become acidic
Ocean
Figure 19.6
Natural capital degradation: acid deposition, which consists of rain, snow, dust, or gas with a pH lower than 5.6, is commonly called acid rain. Soils and lakes vary in their ability to buffer or remove excess acidity.
Lakes in deep soil high in limestone are buffered
Fig. 19-6, p. 448

37. ACID DEPOSITION
pH measurements in relation to major coal-burning and industrial plants.
Figure 19-7

38. ACID DEPOSITION
Acid deposition contributes to chronic respiratory disease and can leach toxic metals (such as lead and mercury) from soils and rocks into acidic lakes used as sources for drinking water.

39. ACID DEPOSITION
Figure 19-8

40. ACID DEPOSITION
Air pollution is one of several interacting stresses that can damage, weaken, or kill trees and pollute surface and groundwater.
Figure 19-9

41. Emissions Lake Groundwater Acid deposition SO2 NOx H2O2 O3 PANs Others
Susceptibility to drought, extreme cold, insects, mosses, & disease organisms
Direct damage to leaves & bark
Reduced photo-synthesis and growth
Soil acidification
Tree death
Figure 19.9
Natural capital degradation: air pollution is one of several interacting stresses that can damage, weaken, or kill trees and pollute surface and groundwater.
Leaching of soil nutrients
Release of toxic metal ions
Root damage
Reduced nutrient & water uptake
Acids
Lake
Groundwater
Fig. 19-9, p. 451

42. Acid Deposition Lab Topic: Investigate an aspect of Acid Deposition
Title:
Background information:
Background sources: AP Environmental Science Acid Deposition Lab, textbook, internet
Question:
Hypothesis:
Variables:
- Independent:
- Dependent:
- Controlled: (include at least 5 controlled variables)

43. Materials:
- soil types (sand, silt, clay, humus, potting soil)
- bedrock types (marble, granite, basalt)
- raw materials of statues (chalk, zinc)
- seed types (pea, mung bean, alfalfa, wheat grass)
- plants (aloe and wheat grass)
- sulfuric acid, pH strips, containers, graduated cylinders
Procedure:
Data Collection:
Data Processing:
Data Presentation:
Conclusion:
- Conclusion based on evidence and why it happened
- Environmental significance
- Evaluation of lab

44. Solutions Acid Deposition Prevention Cleanup
Reduce air pollution by improving energy efficiency
Add lime to neutralize acidified lakes
Reduce coal use
Add phosphate fertilizer to neutralize acidified lakes
Increase natural gas use
Increase use of renewable energy resources
Burn low-sulfur coal
Figure 19.10
Solutions: methods for reducing acid deposition and its damage. QUESTION: Which two of these solutions do you think are the most important?
Remove SO2 particulates & NOx from smokestack gases
Remove NOx from motor vehicular exhaust
Tax emissions of SO2
Fig , p. 452

45. INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
Indoor air pollution usually is a greater threat to human health than outdoor air pollution.
According to the EPA, the four most dangerous indoor air pollutants in developed countries are:
Tobacco smoke.
Formaldehyde.
Radioactive radon-222 gas.
Very small fine and ultrafine particles.

46. Tobacco Smoke Carbon Monoxide Methylene Chloride
Para-dichlorobenzene
Chloroform
Tetrachloroethylene
Formaldehyde
1, 1, 1-
Trichloroethane
Styrene
Nitrogen Oxides
Benzo-a-pyrene
Particulates
Tobacco Smoke
Radon-222
Asbestos
Carbon Monoxide
Methylene Chloride
Fig , p. 453

47. Air Pollution is a Big Killer
Each year, air pollution prematurely kills about 3 million people, mostly from indoor air pollution in developing countries.
In the U.S., the EPA estimates that annual deaths related to indoor and outdoor air pollution range from 150,000 to 350,000.
According to the EPA, each year more than 125,000 Americans get cancer from breathing diesel fumes.

48. Air Pollution is a Big Killer
Spatial distribution of premature deaths from air pollution in the United States.
Figure 19-16

49. PREVENTING AND REDUCING AIR POLLUTION
The Clean Air Acts in the United States have greatly reduced outdoor air pollution from six major pollutants:
Carbon monoxide
Nitrogen oxides
Sulfur dioxides
Suspended particulate matter (less than PM-10)

50. PREVENTING AND REDUCING AIR POLLUTION
Environmental scientists point out several deficiencies in the Clean Air Act:
The U.S. continues to rely on cleanup rather than prevention.
The U.S. Congress has failed to increase fuel-efficiency standards for automobiles.
Regulation of emissions from motorcycles and two-cycle engines remains inadequate.
There is little or no regulation of air pollution from oceangoing ships in American ports.

51. PREVENTING AND REDUCING AIR POLLUTION
Airports are exempt from many air pollution regulations.
The Act does not regulate the greenhouse gas CO2.
The Act has failed to deal seriously with indoor air pollution.
There is a need for better enforcement of the Clean Air Act.

52. Using the Marketplace to Reduce Outdoor Air Pollution
To help reduce SO2 emissions, the Clean Air Act authorized and emission trading (cap-and-trade) program.
Enables the 110 most polluting power plants to buy and sell SO2 pollution rights.
Between , the emission trading system reduced emissions.
In 2002, the EPA reported the cap-and-trade system produced less emission reductions than were projected.

53. Stationary Source Air Pollution
Solutions
Stationary Source Air Pollution
Prevention
Dispersion or Cleanup
Burn low-sulfur coal
Disperse emissions above thermal inversion layer with tall smokestacks
Remove sulfur from coal
Remove pollutants after combustion
Convert coal to a liquid or gaseous fuel
Figure 19.17
Solutions: methods for reducing emissions of sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter from stationary sources such as coal-burning electric power plants and industrial plants. QUESTION: Which two of these solutions do you think are the most important?
Tax each unit of pollution produced
Shift to less polluting fuels
Fig , p. 459

54. Solutions: Reducing Outdoor Air Pollution
There are a of ways to prevent and control air pollution from motor vehicles.
Because of the Clean Air Act, a new car today in the U.S. emits 75% less pollution than did pre-1970 cars.
There is and increase in motor vehicle use in developing countries and many have no pollution control devices and burn leaded gasoline.

55. Motor Vehicle Air Pollution
Solutions
Motor Vehicle Air Pollution
Prevention
Cleanup
Mass transit
Emission control devices
Bicycles and walking
Less polluting engines
Less polluting fuels
Car exhaust inspections twice a year
Improve fuel efficiency
Figure 19.19
Solutions: methods for reducing emissions from motor vehicles. Go to to find out how dirty your car is. QUESTION: Which two of these solutions do you think are the most important?
Get older, polluting cars off the road
Give buyers large tax write-offs or rebates for buying low-polluting, energy efficient vehicles
Stricter emission standards
Fig , p. 460

56. Use adjustable fresh air vents for work spaces
Solutions
Indoor Air Pollution
Prevention
Cleanup or Dilution
Cover ceiling tiles & lining of AC ducts to prevent release of mineral fibers
Use adjustable fresh air vents for work spaces
Increase intake of outside air
Ban smoking or limit it to well ventilated areas
Change air more frequently
Set stricter formaldehyde emissions standards for carpet, furniture, and building materials
Circulate a building’s air through rooftop green houses
Figure 19.20
Solutions: ways to prevent and reduce indoor air pollution. QUESTION: Which two of these solutions do you think are the most important?
Prevent radon infiltration
Use exhaust hoods for stoves and appliances burning natural gas
Use office machines in well ventilated areas
Use less polluting substitutes for harmful cleaning agents, paints, and other products
Install efficient chimneys for wood-burning stoves
Fig , p. 461

57. Improve energy efficiency to reduce fossil fuel use Reduce poverty
Solutions
Air Pollution
Outdoor
Indoor
Improve energy efficiency to reduce fossil fuel use
Reduce poverty
Distribute cheap & efficient cookstoves or solar cookers to poor families in developing countries
Rely more on lower-polluting natural gas
Rely more on renewable energy (especially solar cells, wind, & solar-produced hydrogen)
Reduce or ban indoor smoking
Figure 19.22
Solutions: ways to prevent outdoor and indoor air pollution over the next 30–40 years. QUESTION: Which two of these solutions do you think are the most important?
Transfer technologies for latest energy efficiency, renewable energy, & pollution prevention to developing countries
Develop simple and cheap tests for indoor pollutants such as particulates, radon, and formaldehyde
Fig , p. 462