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Transcript
Chapter 9: Air: Climate and Pollution Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. Chapter 9 Topics • • • • • • • • The Atmosphere and Climate Climate Change Climate and Air Pollution Interactions Between Climate Processes and Air Pollution Effects of Air Pollution Air Pollution Control Clean Air Legislation Current Conditions and Future Prospects Part 1: The Atmosphere and Climate The atmosphere has four distinct zones of contrasting temperature. Energy and the "Greenhouse Effect" Convection and Atmospheric Pressure • • • • Evaporation Latent heat Condensation Convection currents • Air pressure differences • Coriolis effect Tornadoes are local cyclonic storms caused by rapid mixing of cold, dry air and warm, wet air. Seasonal Winds and Monsoons Part 2: Climate Change • The Earth's climate changes, often in short or long cycles. • Ice ages, droughts • Milankovitch cycles, orbital shifts, sunspot cycles, ocean currents • Climate does not necessarily change gradually - meteor impacts, methane releases? Milankovitch cycles Human-Caused Global Climate Change • Global mean surface temperatures have increased about 0.9 degrees F over the past 100 years. • Much of this change is now understood to result from a number of human activities, primarily the burning of oil, gas, and coal. • CO2 levels are increasing 0.5% a year. Carbon dioxide levels are increasing Possible Implications of and Debate Surrounding Global Warming • More heat waves • More extreme storm activity • Changes in rainfall, snowfall patterns • Ecosystem effects • Higher sea levels • More disease • Winners: Siberia, Scandinavia • Losers: most of U.S. (particularly SE; Washington may be nicer), island states • Skepticism • Kyoto Protocol Part 3: Climate and Air Pollution • Over the past 20 years, developed countries have made progress in improving air quality. • Unfortunately, air quality in the developing world has been getting worse. Major Air Pollutants: Problems • Sulfur dioxide - acid rain, health damage, visibility reduction • Nitrogen oxides - acid rain, eutrophication, growth of weedy species • Carbon monoxide - inhibited respiration • Lead and mercury - neurological damage • Chlorofluorocarbons - ozone depletion • Particulate matter - lung damage, cancer • Volatile organic compounds - CO, CO2 production in the atmosphere Indoor Air Pollution • Smoking - diseases related to smoking responsible for 20% of deaths in the U.S. • In less-developed countries, poorly ventilated heating and cooking fires represent the greatest source of indoor air pollution. Part 4: Interactions Between Climate Processes and Air Pollution • • • • • Long-range transport Stratospheric ozone depletion Montreal Protocol - 1987 Temperature inversions Heat islands, dust domes Part 5: Effects of Air Pollution • Human health • Plant pathology • Visibility reduction • Acid deposition Ecosystem damage caused by sulfur dioxide emissions and acid rain. Acid Precipitation, 2000 Part 6: Air Pollution Control • Early approach: "Dilution is the solution to pollution" • Particulate removal - air filters • Sulfur removal - scrubbers • Nitrogen oxide reduction - catalytic converters • Hydrocarbon controls - afterburners Part 7: Clean Air Legislation • Clean Air Act of 1963 • Clean Air Act of 1970 - primary and secondary standards for ambient air quality • 1990 update - significant amendments • Controversy • California - additional pollution control plans Some Good News: U.S. Trends