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The Compelling Science of Atmospheric Chemistry In Partnership with Dr. Katrine Gorham By: Joy Nelson Honors Science December 17, 2013 1 Did you know human have the power to change the climate? The Earth’s current environment is changing based on citizens’ daily decisions. The majority of the population does not realize they are a factor in environmental conditions. Due to Homo sapiens disturbing the ozone layer, which is located in the atmosphere. Day-after-day people are injecting harmful chemicals into the air that harm the environment; they are called fossil fuels which is pollution. Reducing the amount of pollution that is being pushed out into the atmosphere can help to better improve Earth’s climate. This is how humans hold a tiny role in Earth’s evolution. Although the alterations in the ecosystem are small and may not seem important, reducing fossil fuel can really help the earth for the better. People who promptly focus on the atmosphere and all of the atmosphere’s possible effects on earth are called Atmospheric Chemists. This requires precise knowledgeable minds that are willing to devote their work to the study of atmospheric chemistry. One of these intelligent minds includes Dr. Katrine Gorham. Many people are like Dr. Gorham and have an interest in the atmosphere and climate change. The current mission for atmospheric chemists is to help decline pollution in our beloved atmosphere. With all of the current roaming pollutions we have, there is a high probability that we could potentially ruin the atmosphere. Not only that, but possibly damage the environment to a lethal point as well. Where does all this begin? The growing problem of rising pollution dates back to over 400,000 years ago. In this time humans were finally capable of understanding the true capacity of fire. They began using fire for cooking, as well as heat making it a necessity so that they could survive. Over the years as the population increased, so did the need and demand for wood. Lumbar was a need that scarce, resulting in people finding an alternate resource. Quickly they found coal to be a better source of energy, for the coal was more abundant and was cheaper. Making the switch from coal to wood made a turn for the worse, at least for the environment. Smoke and residue left behind harmed and still is harming the environment, but more importantly the atmosphere. Earth’s atmosphere is extremely complex and possesses many factors within. The basic understanding begins with the four different sections of the atmosphere, which are known as geo-spheres or the Earth’s spheres. The four geo-spheres are the lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere. We live in the troposphere, which is the region that is anywhere from 2 Earth’s surface to 6.2 miles upward. The hydrosphere is all of Earth’s surface waters; this includes all water on earth such as rivers, lakes, and oceans. Another sphere is the lithosphere which is the farthest sphere out and away from Earth. The final sphere that differs from the rest is the atmosphere, which can be considered to be the most complex of all. The atmosphere is made up of approximately 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 1% argon, and less than 1% of other gases. This less >1% make a huge difference Graph of the Composition of the Atmosphere in gases in climate change and greatly affects our atmosphere; one of the main components is carbon dioxide. Carbon Dioxide is categorized as a trace gas, which is the less than 1% of all the gases that make up the atmosphere, as well as a greenhouse gas, which is a radiation absorbing component. Carbon Dioxide may be small in the number form, but in all reality it can really impact the earth and all the living organisms living here. Co2, which is another name for carbon dioxide, is a major problem because it is showing a positive trend line towards rising. Why does this even matter you may ask. It matters not only to researchers but also to all other organisms living on Earth. If Carbon Dioxide continues to rise all of humanity will be affected with serious and fatal health problems. This can all starts with the melting of Carbon Dioxide Concentration showing a positive trend permafrost. 3 Permafrost is an ice cap that remains frozen for two or more years, usually the temperature is anywhere from -9 to -11°C cold and can be up to 650 meters thick. Recently there have been cases of permafrost thawing out in area much too rapidly. This causes broken roads, building collapses, and even small numbers of death. These factors are nothing if you consider what will happen in the long course of time. Inside the permafrost lays another greenhouse gas which is 25 times more powerful than carbon dioxide, this gas is called methane. Methane not only is 25 times stronger but also causes more melting of permafrost, meaning the more methane the less permafrost, the less permafrost the less humans. This troubling thought crosses many scientists’ minds regularly, only as a reminder to continue to find the answer to the question. How do we stop or help the environment from global warming? The answer for now is quite simple, mentor younger minds to continue their legacy. With this the future of Atmospheric Chemistry looks bright, and will continue to play an important role in climate change. Atmospheric chemistry will always be a big part of human revolution and survival. In the future a Dr. said by the year 2053 there should be a relevant solution to global warming, and climate change. With all these changes in Earth there is one unquestionable thing, this Earth is warming. The only question is what can we do to preserve nature? 4 Works Cited "Global Warming & Climate Change - Frequently Asked Questions." University Corporation of Atmospheric Research. University Corporation of Atmospheric Research, n.d. Web. 9 Dec 2013. Jacobs, Daniel. Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1999. eBook. <http://books.google.com/books?id=14whM9fEOzsC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r &cad=0 UCLA Atmospheric Chemistry. N.d. Artical. n.p. Web. 6 Jan 2014. <http://www.atmos.ucla.edu/~turco/groupweb/>. 5