GEOL 108 - Crises of a PlanetLab 11 - Air Pollution

Nov. 13 - 16, 2012

Department of Earth Sciences

Department of Earth Sciences

REVIEW | 2

QUIZ 9 REVIEW

Label the wells in the figure below with the appropriate letter, using each letter once. Draw a dashed line representing a possible potentiometric surface.

Department of Earth Sciences

REVIEW | 3

QUIZ 9 REVIEW

In last week’s demonstration, in what direction did groundwater flow in the groundwater model (the ant farm up front).

Department of Earth Sciences

REVIEW | 4

QUIZ 9 REVIEWExtreme ground subsidence has occurred in the San Joaquin Valley, California, causing the land surface to drop up to 30 feet in elevation. How might this occur by over pumping of the aquifer?

Bonus: The geologist president

Department of Earth Sciences

AIR POLLUTION | 5

LAB 11 - AIR POLLUTION

+ =

Department of Earth Sciences

AIR POLLUTION | 6

AIR POLLUTION IN HISTORY• St. Louis - 1939

Department of Earth Sciences

AIR POLLUTION | 7

AIR POLLUTION IN HISTORY• London - 1952• 6-12,000 killed

Department of Earth Sciences

AIR POLLUTION | 8

AIR POLLUTION IN HISTORY• Beijing Olympics 2008

Department of Earth Sciences

AIR POLLUTION | 9

AIR POLLUTION AROUND THE WORLD

• NO2 around the world• Leads to production of ozone in the lower atmosphere

Department of Earth Sciences

AIR POLLUTION | 10

PARTICULATE MATTER• Tiny bits of solid or liquid suspended in a gas• Linked to asthma, lung cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory

disease, birth defects.• PM10 refers to particles less than 10 microns (1 x 10-5 meters)• The smallest particles can pass through cell membranes

Department of Earth Sciences

AIR POLLUTION | 11

POLLUTION COMPOSITION

Department of Earth Sciences

AIR POLLUTION | 12

ALTERNATIVE FUELS

Compressed Natural Gas

Compared to diesel buses, reduces emissions of particulates by 90%, carbon monoxide by 80%, and greenhouse gases by 20%

Department of Earth Sciences

AIR POLLUTION | 13

ALTERNATIVE FUELS

Hydrogen

Car emits only water vapor, but the most common source for hydrogen is natural gas, which releases greenhouse gases during production.

Additional challenges with building infrastructure.

Existing hydrogen fueling stations in LA

Department of Earth Sciences

AIR POLLUTION | 14

AIR POLLUTION IN LOS ANGELES• Geography and climate of LA enhances smog effect

− Though air temperature usually decreases with elevation in the troposphere, this is not the case in Los Angeles

− Layer of warm air above city prevents normal circulation− Typically sunny days initiates reactions that create smog

Ritter, Michael E. The Physical Environment: an Introduction to Physical Geography.http://rustylopez.typepad.com/imagoarticulus/2007/02/inversion_layer.html