effects of climate change on air quality nw

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Effects of Climate Change on AirEffects of Climate Change on Air

QualityQuality

By: Mohammed JaberBy: Mohammed Jaber

Instructor: Dr. Khalil KhaderInstructor: Dr. Khalil Khader

Natural resources and Environment

Department of Water Resources and Environment


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IntroductionIntroduction

It is widely recognized that air quality andIt is widely recognized that air quality and

climate change are stronglyclimate change are strongly

interconnected.interconnected.

It is very complicated to study theIt is very complicated to study the

interrelationships between the two casesinterrelationships between the two cases

due to uncertainty in determining thedue to uncertainty in determining the

effects of one on the another.effects of one on the another.


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IntroductionIntroduction

The forth assessment of theThe forth assessment of the

intergovernmental panel on climateintergovernmental panel on climate

change (IPCC) proposed that:change (IPCC) proposed that: There is an increase in global mean air andThere is an increase in global mean air and

ocean temperatures.ocean temperatures.

Widespread ice and snow melt.Widespread ice and snow melt.

Rising global sea level.Rising global sea level.


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The effects of climate change on airThe effects of climate change on air

pollution meteorologypollution meteorology

Global precipitation increases slightly dueGlobal precipitation increases slightly due

to enhanced evaporation from theto enhanced evaporation from the

oceans.oceans.

1.1. Precipitation increases in northern parts ofPrecipitation increases in northern parts of

America and Europe, but decreases in theAmerica and Europe, but decreases in the

southern parts.southern parts.

2.2. It increases in northern Asia but decreasesIt increases in northern Asia but decreases

in the middle east.in the middle east.


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Tropospheric OzoneTropospheric Ozone

Ozone forms in the troposphere by theOzone forms in the troposphere by theaction of sunlight on certain chemicals.action of sunlight on certain chemicals.(fig.1)(fig.1)

Tropospheric Ozone precursors are:Tropospheric Ozone precursors are: Nitrogen Oxide (NONitrogen Oxide (NO

xx).).

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Carbon monoxide (CO).Carbon monoxide (CO). Sulfur Dioxide (SOSulfur Dioxide (SO

22).).


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Some chemistrySome chemistry

Ozone can be produced in the troposphere byOzone can be produced in the troposphere by

photochemical oxidation of CO, CHphotochemical oxidation of CO, CH44, and, and

NMVOCs:NMVOCs:

1.1.

OH + COOH + CO

H + COH + CO222.2. H + OH + O22 HOHO22

ThenThen

3.3. HOHO22 + NO+ NO OH + NOOH + NO22

4.4. NONO22 + hv+ hv NO + ONO + O

5.5. O + OO + O22OO33

The net effect of these reactions are:The net effect of these reactions are:

CO + 2OCO + 2O22 COCO22 + O+ O33


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Tropospheric OzoneTropospheric Ozone

Higher temperatures enhances theHigher temperatures enhances the

production of ozone in the presence ofproduction of ozone in the presence of

sunlight.sunlight.

This production would be increased withThis production would be increased with

decreasing cloud cover in many regions.decreasing cloud cover in many regions.


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ExpectationsExpectations

All recent studies predicts that there willAll recent studies predicts that there will

be a decrease in ozone concentrations inbe a decrease in ozone concentrations in

the future climate as a result of increasingthe future climate as a result of increasing

water vapor.water vapor.


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Particulate Matter (PM)Particulate Matter (PM)

Can be divided into two types:Can be divided into two types:

PM 2.5 (those with 2.5 m diameter):PM 2.5 (those with 2.5 m diameter): Sulfate.Sulfate.

Nitrate.Nitrate. Organic Carbon.Organic Carbon. Elemental Carbon.Elemental Carbon.

PM 10 (those with 10 m diameter):PM 10 (those with 10 m diameter): Soil Dust.Soil Dust. Sea Salt.Sea Salt.


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Particulate MatterParticulate Matter

Sulfate, nitrate, and organic carbon areSulfate, nitrate, and organic carbon are

produced within the atmosphere by oxidation ofproduced within the atmosphere by oxidation of

SOSO22, NO, NO

xx, NMVOCs., NMVOCs.

Its an air quality and health cause problem.Its an air quality and health cause problem.

The main scavenging factor is precipitation.The main scavenging factor is precipitation.

Observed correlations of PM concentrations withObserved correlations of PM concentrations withMeteorological variables are weaker than forMeteorological variables are weaker than for

ozone.ozone.


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Model perturbation studies find that the effect ofModel perturbation studies find that the effect of

temperature on PM depends on the component.temperature on PM depends on the component.

Sulfate concentration increases withSulfate concentration increases with

temperature, due to faster SOtemperature, due to faster SO22 oxidation.oxidation.

In contrast, nitrate and organic semi-volatileIn contrast, nitrate and organic semi-volatile

components shift from the particle phase to thecomponents shift from the particle phase to thegas phase with increasing temperature.gas phase with increasing temperature.


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PM concentration decrease withPM concentration decrease with

increasing precipitation as wet depositionincreasing precipitation as wet deposition

provides the main PM sink.provides the main PM sink.

Change in ventilation have strongerChange in ventilation have stronger

effects on PM than for ozone of the lowereffects on PM than for ozone of the lower

PM background concentration.PM background concentration.


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ExpectationsExpectations

PM response is more complicated thanPM response is more complicated than

ozone, because of the diversity of PMozone, because of the diversity of PM

components.components.


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Dependence of surface air qualityDependence of surface air quality

on meteorological variableson meteorological variablesvariable Ozone PM

Temperature ++ -

Regionalstagnation

++ ++

Wind Speed - -

Mixing Depth = - -

Humidity = +

Cloud Cover - -

Precipitation = - -


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Effect of Climate Change onEffect of Climate Change on

MercuryMercury

More warming of the planet would transferMore warming of the planet would transfer

mercury between ecosystems viamercury between ecosystems via

atmospheric transport.atmospheric transport.

This will re-deposit it in a more mobile andThis will re-deposit it in a more mobile and

presumably more toxic form.presumably more toxic form.


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Effect of climate changes onEffect of climate changes on

MercuryMercury

Future warming at boreal latitudes couldFuture warming at boreal latitudes could

release large amount of soil organicrelease large amount of soil organic

matter as COmatter as CO2.2.

This would be through increasedThis would be through increased

respiration and increased fires.respiration and increased fires.


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effects of climate change on air quality nw

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