Download Unit 7 - "Air Pollution and Climate Change" One result of humanity`s

Unit 7 - "Air Pollution and Climate Change"
One result of humanity’s dramatic increase in resource consumption in recent centuries is the generation of large amounts of air
pollution (especially from fossil fuel combustion, as seen last unit). The atmosphere is a large commons into which much of this
pollution is discharged, creating hazards such as smog, acid rain, ozone destruction, respiratory disease, and climate change. In this
unit, we will examine specific harmful air pollutants, their sources and effects on ecosystems & human health, and how to control
them.
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Essential Questions:
What are the types & sources of air pollution, and what are their effects on human & environmental health?
How are human activities causing climate change, how do we know, & what effects may result if continued?
How can we best respond to the threats of air pollution and climate change to help achieve sustainability?
Learning Targets – I CAN . . .
Chapter 15: Air Pollution
1. Identify the major air pollutants and where they come from.
a. Differentiate primary and secondary pollutants.
b. Define photochemical oxidants and give 2 examples.
c. Compare photochemical smog and sulfurous smog.
d. Compare natural emissions and anthropogenic emissions.
2. Explain how photochemical smog and acid deposition are formed and describe the effects of each.
a. Describe how photochemical smog is formed.
b. Explain how a thermal inversion occurs.
c. What are the effects of a thermal inversion on air quality?
d. Outline the creation of acid depositions.
e. How do acid depositions travel throughout the atmosphere?
f. Explain the effects of acid deposition and give 2 examples.
3. Examine various approaches to the control and prevention of outdoor air pollution.
a. How does fluidized bed combustion remove sulfur dioxide from emissions?
b. Describe two strategies that remove nitrogen oxides from emissions.
c. Compare bag house filters, electrostatic precipitators and scrubbers.
d. Describe innovative strategies to reduce air pollution.
e. Explain the purpose of sulfur allowances and how they work.
4. Explain the causes and effects of stratospheric ozone depletion.
a. Which types of UV rays are absorbed by the ozone layer
b. Differentiate tropospheric and atmospheric ozone.
c. Create a flow chart that shows the breakdown of atmospheric ozone.
d. Describe how chlorofluorocarbons contributed to the breakdown of the ozone layer.
e. Explain the history behind the creation of the ozone hole.
f. What steps are being taken to reduce ozone depletion?
5. Discuss the hazards of indoor air pollution, especially in developing countries.
a. What indoor air pollutants are most common in developing countries?
b. Create a chart the 5 major indoor air pollutants. Include the source and the effects of each pollutant.
c. Define sick building syndrome.
Chapter 19: Global Climate Change
6. Distinguish among global change, global climate change, and global warming.
a. Define global change and list examples of global change that is occurring right now and how it differs from change
in the past
b. Define global climate change and list examples of global climate change
c. Define global warming and list examples of global warming
d. Explain the connection between global change, global climate change, and global warming
7. Explain how solar radiation and greenhouse gases warm our planet.
a. Describe, in detail, the steps involved in the sun’s energy warming the planet, including the types of radiation
involved and the factors that influence how solar radiation behaves
b. Explain why the Sun’s energy can pass through the atmosphere but the energy emitted from Earth cannot.
c. Define greenhouse gases & list all the important greenhouse gases
d. Identify the two most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere and man’s impact on their concentrations
e. Define greenhouse warming potential and list the two measures taken into consideration for this factor.
f. Compare and contrast global warming potential and duration in atmosphere for the major greenhouse gases
g. Explain why scientists are more concerned with carbon dioxide compared to other greenhouse gases.
8. Discuss how CO2 concentrations and temperatures have changed over time.
a. Identify the natural sources of greenhouse gas emissions
b. Connect the natural source of greenhouse gas emissions to their greenhouse gas
c. Explain the difference between natural and anthropogenic sources of greenhouse gases
d. Identify the anthropogenic sources of greenhouse gases
e. Compare CO2 emissions from different fossil fuels and what the importance is of this information
f. Define albedo
g. Explain the effect particulate matter, or soot, can have on albedo and the resulting positive feedback loop
h. Describe how agricultural practices can affect greenhouse gas emissions, focusing on which gases are connect to
which agricultural practices
i. Explain the role deforestation plays in greenhouse gas concentration
j. Identify why landfills emit greenhouse gases
k. Identify the top two anthropogenic sources of methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide
9. Describe the importance of feedback loops in the process of global warming.
a. Describe the IPCC’s role in global warming.
b. Describe the seasonal trend and overall yearly carbon dioxide trend in the atmosphere
c. Explain what causes the seasonal carbon dioxide trend.
d. Compare developing nations’ carbon dioxide levels with developed nations.
e. Describe the global temperature trend since 1880 including how it varies by region.
f. Describe the methods scientists use to determine the climate from the distant past.
g. Explain how isotopic oxygen varies between glacial and interglacial times (see Vostok Activity)
h. Describe the CO2 trend over the past 400,000 years. List the current level of CO2 in ppm.
i. Define positive and negative feedback loops (use page 45-46 for additional reference).
j. Diagram the positive and negative feedback loops in climate change.
10. Identify how global warming is affecting people and the environment.
a. Describe the current polar ice caps and glaciers trends and consequences.
b. Explain how melting permafrost creates a positive feedback loop.
c. List the two ways rise in global temperature contributes to increasing sea levels.
d. Describe the benefits and consequences of heat waves and cold spells.
e. Explain how precipitation patterns and storm intensity will vary due to increasing global temperatures.
f. Explain how scientists believe ocean currents will change as a result of rising temperatures.
g. List several ways that warmer temperatures affect wild plants and animals.
h. Describe how corals are affected by warming oceans.
i. Explain how global warming can affect human habitation, health and economics.
j. Describe how much of global climate change is considered a controversy.
11. Discuss how the Kyoto Protocol aims to reduce global warming.
a. Describe the purpose of the Kyoto Protocol.
b. Explain how the Kyoto Protocol will affect developed and developing countries.
c. Define carbon sequestration.
d. Explain the United States’ role in the Kyoto Protocol.
Chapter
Chapter 15 - Air Pollution
Chapter 19 - Global Climate Change
Mod
46
47
48
50
49
62
63
64
Module List and Reading Schedule:
Pages
Topic(s)
517 - 527
Major Air Pollutants & Sources
527 - 532
Smog & Acid Rain
533 - 537
Pollution Control Measures
542 - 545 + WTS Indoor Air Pollution
538 - 541
Stratospheric Ozone Depletion
Chapter 15 Quiz
663 - 673
The Greenhouse Effect
674 - 685
Evidence for Global Warming
686 - 694 + WTS Consequences of Climate Change
Unit 7 Quam
Due Date
11/29
11/29
11/30
12/1
12/2