Air QualityAir Quality

Air quality affects the quality of life Air quality affects the quality of life for all organisms on Earth. for all organisms on Earth.

Natural as well as human activities Natural as well as human activities influence the quality of air on Earth. influence the quality of air on Earth.

Air QualityAir Quality The environment may The environment may

contain dangerous contain dangerous levels of substances levels of substances that are harmful to that are harmful to human beings. human beings.

Therefore, the good Therefore, the good health of individuals health of individuals requires monitoring requires monitoring the soil, air and water the soil, air and water and taking steps to and taking steps to make them safe. make them safe.

Air QualityAir Quality

Technology has allowed us to Technology has allowed us to measure the characteristics of the measure the characteristics of the air and to monitor how air quality air and to monitor how air quality changes. changes.

This information helps us to make This information helps us to make informed decisions to protect air informed decisions to protect air quality and risks to human health quality and risks to human health and other organisms. and other organisms.

Natural Air PollutantsNatural Air Pollutants

Air pollution does not exist entirely of Air pollution does not exist entirely of man made substances. man made substances.

Many pollutants are released directly Many pollutants are released directly from natural sources and pose as much from natural sources and pose as much of a health hazard as man made of a health hazard as man made substances. substances.

Natural events such as forest fires, Natural events such as forest fires, volcanic eruptions as well as plant volcanic eruptions as well as plant pollen, radon, mold spores and dust from pollen, radon, mold spores and dust from plowed fields. plowed fields.

Human Induced Air Human Induced Air PollutionPollution

1.1. Fossil FuelsFossil Fuels

2.2. Acid RainAcid Rain

3.3. Smog/Air ParticulatesSmog/Air Particulates

Fossil FuelsFossil Fuels The main cause of air pollution is from the The main cause of air pollution is from the

burning of fossil fuels (so the best way to burning of fossil fuels (so the best way to improve air quality is to use less fossil fuels!)improve air quality is to use less fossil fuels!)

The burning of fossil fuels releases large The burning of fossil fuels releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. atmosphere.

Ex. Coal, oil shale and natural gasEx. Coal, oil shale and natural gas

Called fossil fuels because of how they form Called fossil fuels because of how they form (come from plant/animal remains and take a (come from plant/animal remains and take a VERY long time to form)VERY long time to form)

Problems with Fossil Problems with Fossil FuelsFuels

1.1. Cause acid rainCause acid rain

2.2. Will run out in the near futureWill run out in the near future

3.3. Cause global warmingCause global warming

Acid RainAcid Rain

Acid rain is rain that has become Acid rain is rain that has become much more acidic than normal much more acidic than normal because of pollution. because of pollution.

Factories, power plants and many Factories, power plants and many forms of transportation release forms of transportation release sulfur dioxide and nitrogen into the sulfur dioxide and nitrogen into the air, which mix with water vapor to air, which mix with water vapor to form sulfuric acid and nitric acid.form sulfuric acid and nitric acid.

Acid RainAcid Rain

The acids mix with cloud droplets and The acids mix with cloud droplets and eventually fall to Earth as precipitationeventually fall to Earth as precipitation

Wind blows pollution all around the Wind blows pollution all around the globe, so acid rain may fall far from the globe, so acid rain may fall far from the source of the pollution. source of the pollution.

Acid rain harms trees and makes lakes Acid rain harms trees and makes lakes more acidic which makes it hard for more acidic which makes it hard for fish and other organisms to survive. It fish and other organisms to survive. It also harms buildings and sculptures. also harms buildings and sculptures.

SmogSmog

Smog is a colloid (a mixture) of Smog is a colloid (a mixture) of smoke, fog and chemicals. smoke, fog and chemicals.

Many areas have smog, which is bad Many areas have smog, which is bad because smog irritates the lungs. because smog irritates the lungs.

Effects of Air PollutionEffects of Air Pollution

1.1. The Greenhouse EffectThe Greenhouse Effect

2.2. Global WarmingGlobal Warming

3.3. Ozone DepletionOzone Depletion

Greenhouse EffectGreenhouse Effect

Greenhouse Effect: Natural process Greenhouse Effect: Natural process that warms Earth’s lower that warms Earth’s lower atmosphere and surfaceatmosphere and surface

Nitrogen and Oxygen make up 99% Nitrogen and Oxygen make up 99% of the volume of clean, dry air (1% of the volume of clean, dry air (1% water vapor, carbon dioxide, water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and others)methane and others)

Greenhouse EffectGreenhouse Effect

The 2 most important heat absorbing The 2 most important heat absorbing gases in the lower atmosphere are gases in the lower atmosphere are water vapor and carbon dioxidewater vapor and carbon dioxide

Water vapor and COWater vapor and CO22 create a create a blanket over Earth. Without it, the blanket over Earth. Without it, the planet would cool to subzero planet would cool to subzero temperatures within hours at night temperatures within hours at night time.time.

Greenhouse EffectGreenhouse Effect

Greenhouse gases allow incoming Greenhouse gases allow incoming radiation from the sun to pass through radiation from the sun to pass through (they are transparent) and absorb (they are transparent) and absorb Earth’s radiation, thus creating heat.Earth’s radiation, thus creating heat.

Rapid growth of industry in the past Rapid growth of industry in the past 200 years has led to the release of 200 years has led to the release of large amounts of greenhouse gases.large amounts of greenhouse gases.

Fossil Fuels and Fossil Fuels and GreenhouseGreenhouse

Burning fossil fuels increases the Burning fossil fuels increases the greenhouse effect by releasing more greenhouse effect by releasing more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than Earth can handle.than Earth can handle.

Global WarmingGlobal Warming

During the 20During the 20thth century, Earth’s century, Earth’s average surface temperature has average surface temperature has increased (worst in the past 30 increased (worst in the past 30 years)years)

Global Warming is an increase in Global Warming is an increase in the overall temperature caused the overall temperature caused by HUMAN actions.by HUMAN actions.

Causes of Global Causes of Global WarmingWarming

The main causes of global warming The main causes of global warming are:are:

1.1. Burning of fossil fuels (more COBurning of fossil fuels (more CO22))

2.2. CFC’s (chlorofluorocarbons-air CFC’s (chlorofluorocarbons-air conditioners, aerosol spraysconditioners, aerosol sprays

CFC’s absorb more heat than CFC’s absorb more heat than natural greenhouse gases donatural greenhouse gases do

Consequences of Global Consequences of Global WarmingWarming

Melting of polar ice will Melting of polar ice will increase the amount of increase the amount of seawater there is which seawater there is which will erode and flood will erode and flood coastlines.coastlines.

Long term changes in Long term changes in climate patterns: more climate patterns: more drought as well as more drought as well as more floodingflooding

Consequences of Global Consequences of Global WarmingWarming

More hurricanes and tornadoes More hurricanes and tornadoes because of the increase in ocean because of the increase in ocean water and atmosphere temperatures water and atmosphere temperatures

(warmer water=stronger hurricanes)(warmer water=stronger hurricanes)

Changes in climate=changes in Changes in climate=changes in ecosystems and organisms (harmful ecosystems and organisms (harmful bacteria can survive longer)bacteria can survive longer)

Greenhouse and Global Greenhouse and Global WarmingWarming

As the greenhouse effect As the greenhouse effect increases, so does global increases, so does global warming. warming.

In order to slow global warming, In order to slow global warming, we need to find a way to emit we need to find a way to emit less greenhouse gases.less greenhouse gases.

OzoneOzone The form of oxygen that The form of oxygen that

combines three oxygen combines three oxygen atoms in each molecule atoms in each molecule is known as ozone (Ois known as ozone (O33))

The oxygen we breathe The oxygen we breathe is Ois O22

““Good up high, bad Good up high, bad nearby”nearby”

OzoneOzone

Humans have been using CFC’s Humans have been using CFC’s (chloroflourocarbons) in cooling products, (chloroflourocarbons) in cooling products, spray cans and foam for a long time.spray cans and foam for a long time.

CFC’s have chlorine in them which break CFC’s have chlorine in them which break apart an ozone molecule from apart an ozone molecule from OO3 3 to Oto O2. 2.

The same atom of chlorine can do The same atom of chlorine can do this over and over and no new ozone this over and over and no new ozone is formed, which has lead to the is formed, which has lead to the ozone hole.ozone hole.

Air Pollution RegulationAir Pollution Regulation

Laws exist to help control and reduce air Laws exist to help control and reduce air pollution. pollution.

The Environmental Protection Agency The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides daily information about air (EPA) provides daily information about air quality. quality.

Local weather channels also issue Local weather channels also issue information related to the health of the information related to the health of the atmosphere. atmosphere.