Download The Atmosphere and Air Pollution

Nicholas Todd
Daniel Aullet Smith
Kadeem Rayford
Phillip P Reavis
The Atmosphere and Air Pollution
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The Atmosphere:
o The Layers:
 Troposphere: The Layer of the atmosphere closest to the ground. This is the
layer where all the weather occurs. Most of the gasses in the atmosphere exist
here. 99% of this air is N2 and O2. Altitude: 0-13 miles
 Stratosphere: The second layer in the atmosphere. The Ozone layer exists here
and protects us from UVC Radiation. Without this Ozone layer, we would be
unable to go outside without being severely burned. However there is a hole in
this layer over the Antarctic.
 Mesosphere: The 3rd layer in the atmosphere. Very cold and little to no
pressure. Aurora tends to occur here.
 Thermosphere: The 4th layer in the atmosphere. The atmosphere warms
rapidly as you go up in this layer.
 Exosphere: The Outermost layer in the atmosphere. The upper portion of this
layer is LEO or Low Earth Orbit. Satellites and the ISS (International Space
Station) orbit the earth here. The temperatures very drastically up in this layer.
On the lit side of the earth it is very hot. On the shadow side it can get close to
3 Kelvin. Almost Absolute Zero. After 200 miles you enter outer space.
o Atmosphere Composition:
 78% is Nitrogen gas.
 21% is Oxygen gas.
 1% is other gasses like H2O, CO2, Argon, CH4, O3, and N2O.
Clouds:
o Low Level Clouds:
 Status: Low Gray day clouds. Associated with low pressure. Occur at less than
5,000 ft.
 Cumulous: Associated with fair weather. Occur at Less than 15,000 ft.
 Nimbostratus: Produce rain or snow. Associated with low pressure or warm
fronts. Occur less than 3,000 ft.
 Cumulonimbus: Thunderstorms. Associated with cold fronts. Need warm and
humid air to form. Can produce Heavy rain, strong winds, Lightning, hail, and
tornadoes. Can go up to 60,000 ft.
o Mid-Level Clouds:
 Alto Cumulus: Associated with approaching fronts and indicate instability.
Occur at about 10,000 to 20,000 ft.
 Alto Stratus: Same conditions as Alto Cumulus yet are flat in appearance.
o High Level Clouds:
 Cirrus: Are wispy, feather, and composed of ice crystals. Indicate an
approaching front. Occur between 20,000 ft and 40,000 ft.
Nicholas Todd
Daniel Aullet Smith
Kadeem Rayford
Phillip P Reavis
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Other forms include: Cirrostratus and Cirrocumulus.
Other types:
 Wall Cloud: Is a rotating lowering on the base of a supper cell thunderstorm.
These can produce tornadoes. If seen seek shelter right away.
 Shelf Cloud: A broad lowering under at thunderstorm. Stretch for miles in a
liner line. Indicates Strong Cold front or squall line.
 Mammatus: Drooping underside pouch like clouds on the underside of a
Cumulonimbus’s Anvil. Indicates a strong updraft and possible Hail.
Global winds:
o Polar Easterlies: At about the latitude of Norway and northward (60-90 degrees) the
polar easterlies blow irregularly from the east and north.
o Westerlies: At about the latitude of Western Europe and the United States (30-60
degrees) the Westerlies blow from the west, tending somewhat toward the north. This
causes most weather in the United States to move from west to east.
o Trade Winds: South of about 30 degrees the northern or northeast trade winds blow
mostly from the northeast toward the equator. These were the sailor's favorite winds
since the weather was warm and the winds usually blew steadily in an advantageous
direction. Columbus used these to sail to the Caribbean.
o Doldrums: At about the equator is Intertropical Convergence Zone or doldrums, a region
of light and irregular wind broken by occasional thunderstorms and squalls. The width
and exact location of the doldrums is hard to predict. Sailing ships are sometimes
becalmed here for many days waiting for a proper wind.
o In the northern hemisphere the Coriolis Effect causes wind and water currents to bend
to the right (clockwise). Cold heavy air flows south from the North Pole and is bent west,
forming the polar easterlies. Warm air rises at the equator drawing air from the north
which bends to the west, contributing to the trade winds. The Coriolis Effect bends the
westerlies and trade winds slightly clockwise in the northern hemisphere.
o Hot air rises at the doldrums. As it rises it cools producing thunderstorms. The dry air
flows north at a high altitude and descends at the horse latitudes and flows back to the
equator with the trade winds. This is called the Hadley cell. There is also a Ferrel cell
over the westerlies and a polar cell over the pole. There are other complexities, not all
of which are properly understood.
o The Jet Stream: Jet streams are fast flowing, narrow air currents found in the
atmospheres of some planets, including Earth. The main jet streams are located near
the tropopause, the transition between the troposphere and the stratosphere. These
winds can excide 200 mph.
Precipitation:
o Rain
o Snow
o Sleet: Different from hail.
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Daniel Aullet Smith
Kadeem Rayford
Phillip P Reavis
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o Hail: Forms only in thunderstorms
o Graupel: Snow Pellets.
o Freezing Rain: Falls as a liquid and freezes on contact.
Severe Weather:
o Tornadoes: A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that picks up debris and
destroys anything in its path. It is only called a tornado if it’s on the ground. Otherwise
it is called a funnel cloud. Tornadoes typically last about 10-30 min, but they can, in rare
cases, last over an hour. Winds can exceed 300 mph. They can form at any time, but
the stronger ones form usually in May over the planes and Midwest of the USA.
o Hurricanes: A Hurricane is a Strong low pressure center that forms over the warm
ocean and can cause major damage with its wind, storm surge, and rain. They can have
winds up to 200 MPH. These storms usually form in late august and September.
o Blizzards: Is a snow storm where winds exceed 30 mph and visibility is less than ¼ mile
with blowing snow. These storms can have severe cold and snowfall totals over 1ft.
Indoor Air Pollutants
Causes
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Radon: often found in the bedrock underneath a home and in building materials
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Environmental tobacco smoke: the combination of smoke coming from the burning end of a
cigarette, pipe or cigar, as well as the smoke exhaled by the smoke
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Biological contaminants: bacteria, mold, mildew, viruses, animal dander, dust
mites, cockroaches and pollen. Many of these grow in damp, warm environments or are brought
in from outside.
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Combustion: unvented gas space heaters, woodstoves, fireplaces and gas stoves emit carbon
monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and small particles. More than 3 billion people worldwide continue to
rely on solid fuels like wood and coal for their energy needs
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Household products: paints, varnishes, hobby products and cleaning products all contain
organic chemicals that are released during use and storage
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Pesticides: 80 percent of most people's exposure to pesticides happens inside; measurable
levels of up to 12 pesticides have been detected in indoor air
The potential for harm from any of these pollutants depends partly on our individual sensitivity. The
elderly, the young and those with compromised immune systems tend to be more
susceptible. Ventilation also plays a role in how these pollutants harm you. If fresh air frequently
circulates throughout the area, the culprits won't have as much time to accumulate and reach
dangerous levels.
Symptoms and effects
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Daniel Aullet Smith
Kadeem Rayford
Phillip P Reavis
Health effects from indoor air pollution can be immediate and short-lived, or they may be severe and
not show up until years after repeated exposures. The most common symptoms are sore throat,
headache and persistent cough, as well as itchy, running eyes and nose. More severe symptoms
include chronic breathing problems, heart disease and cancer.
Major indoor air pollutants
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Indoor radon exposure is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., causing
between 15,000 and 21,000 deaths each year
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Exposure to formaldehyde irritates the mucous membranes and eyes, and can provoke
asthma and impair the central nervous system.
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Biological contaminants can transmit illnesses like the flu and measles,
trigger allergic reactions and cause digestive problems.
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Combustion gases impede the flow of oxygen through your body. High levels can cause
unconsciousness and death, while lower levels create headaches, dizziness, weakness,
confusion and fatigue. Some can lead to lung diseases like emphysema.
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High exposure to chemicals in household products and pesticides can irritate the
respiratory tract; cause headaches, dizziness and vision problems; impair memory function
and may cause cancer
Solutions
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Asbestos, can simply be sealed to prevent exposure, while others, like pesticides, you may want
to eliminate.
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Polluting sources like a gas-cooking stove or fuel-burning space heater may not be feasible for
you to remove, but you can minimize your risk by always operating those devices according to
the manufacturer's directions and being sure to ventilate well.
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Since most heating and cooling systems simply recirculate air rather than bring in fresh air, you'll
want to open windows and doors when the weather is nice, operate window or attic fans, and run
bathroom and kitchen fans that exhaust outdoors. You especially want to follow these steps when
you're using items with potentially harmful chemicals like paints.
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Minimize the biological contaminants in your home by maintaining a humidity level of 30 to 50
percent. Higher levels encourage dust mites and mold growth. Keeping carpets clean and dry
and simply maintaining a clean house also discourage biological contaminants.
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Household cleaners, you have two options. The first is to carefully follow the instructions on the
label, use them in well-ventilated areas, and store and dispose of them safely. The second is to
Nicholas Todd
Daniel Aullet Smith
Kadeem Rayford
Phillip P Reavis
pick a product that is made with benign ingredients. If you're unsure, read the label: If a product
doesn't list its ingredients or has any "warnings," it's probably not safe.
Nicholas Todd
Daniel Aullet Smith
Kadeem Rayford
Phillip P Reavis
Study Guide
Air Pollution: the presence of chemicals in the atmosphere in concentrations high enough
to harm organisms, ecosystems, or human-made materials.
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Comes from natural and human sources
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Natural sources:
 Dust blown by wind
 Pollutants from wildfires
 Volcanic eruptions: pollution can reach harmful levels if eruption is big enough
 Volatile organic chemicals released by some plants
 Usually not harmful because of low concentrations in areas or they are removed
by chemical cycles, precipitation, and gravity
o Human sources:
 Mostly from the burning of fossil fuels in power and industrial plants and in
motor vehicles
Air Pollution can be stationary or mobile
o Stationary Sources: Power Plants and coal-burning factories
o Mobile Sources: motor vehicles
Air pollution has been around since the beginning of earth
Nicholas Todd
Daniel Aullet Smith
Kadeem Rayford
Phillip P Reavis
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Became a serious problem in the United States after the Industrial Revolution
First documented problem with air pollution in the United States occurred in October of 1948 in
the town of Donora in Pennsylvania
o Pollutants from coal-burning factories, steel mills, zinc smelter, and sulfuric acid plant
became trapped in a dense fog which remained over the town for 5 days and made
6,000 of the town’s 14,000 inhabitants sick with 20 deaths
Primary Pollutants: harmful chemicals emitted directly into the air from natural processes and
human activities
o Ex: CO, CO2, SO2, NO, and NO2
Secondary Pollutants: pollutants that react with another chemical and with the basic
components of air to form new harmful chemicals
o Ex: SO3, HNO3, H2SO4, O3, and PANs
Used to be a regional problem limited to cities but is presently a global problem because the
concentration of pollutants in the air has increased dramatically
Health effects of Air Pollution:
o Can overload or break down the body’s natural defenses
o Contributes to lung cancer, asthma attacks, heart attacks, and stroke
At least 3 million people world-wide die prematurely each year from effects of air pollution
Air Pollution Laws
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Clean Air Act of 1970, 1977, and 1990: laws passed by the federal gov’t that helped establish air
pollution regulations and reduce air pollution in the United States
o Allowed the EPA to establish the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
 Primary standard of the NAAQS set a limit on pollution to protect human health
 Secondary standard of the NAAQS set a limit on pollution to prevent
environmental and property damage
o Also allowed the EPA to establish national emission standards for more than 188
Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPS)
The Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) law was also passed to regulate and inform the public on the
emissions of toxic chemicals from refineries, power plants, hard rock mines, chemical
manufacturers, and factories
Deficiencies in the United States air pollution control laws are that:
o The United States continues to rely mostly on cleanup rather than pollution prevention
o U.S. Congress fails to increase fuel-efficiency standards for cars, SUVs, and light trucks
o There is little to no regulation of air pollution from oceangoing ships in American ports
o Airports are exempt from many air pollution regulations
o The laws do not regulate emissions of Carbon dioxide
o Laws have failed to deal seriously with indoor air pollution
o There needs to be better enforcement of the Clean Air Act
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Daniel Aullet Smith
Kadeem Rayford
Phillip P Reavis
Industrial Smog
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Consists mostly of sulfur dioxide, suspended droplets of sulfuric acid, and a variety of suspended
solid particles
Forms when carbon and sulfur in coal and oil is burned, releasing carbon and sulfur into the
atmosphere
o Carbon released into the atmosphere converts into carbon monoxide and carbon
dioxide after reacting with oxygen
o Sulfur released into the atmosphere converts into sulfur dioxide after reacting with
oxygen
o Some of the sulfur gas reacts with water vapor in the atmosphere and converts into tiny
suspended droplets of sulfuric acid
o Some of the suspended droplets react with ammonia in the atmosphere to form solid
particles of ammonium sulfate
o The combination of these chemicals result in industrial smog
Can cause premature deaths and an increase in heart and lung related diseases
Is rarely a problem in most developed countries where there is reasonably good pollution
control for air pollution but is a serious problem in developing countries
Photochemical Smog
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Is a mixture of primary and secondary pollutants formed under the influence of UV radiation
from the sun
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Formed when large amounts of NOx, VOCs, and other pollutants are released into the air and
react with each other after being exposed to radiation.
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Daniel Aullet Smith
Kadeem Rayford
Phillip P Reavis
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The result is smog that is a mixture of photochemical oxidants (damaging chemicals that react
with and oxidize certain compounds in the atmosphere or inside lungs) stagnant in the air
Most common in cities with sunny, warm, dry climates and a large amount of motor vehicles
Can also cause premature deaths and an increase in heart and lung related diseases
o Also irritates eyes and respiratory tracts
Acid Deposition
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Sometimes called acid rain, is a mixture of nitric acid and sulfuric acid in the atmosphere that is
emitted back down to the earth’s surface in the form of acidic rain
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Forms from coal-burning power plants and motor vehicles that release nitric oxide and sulfur
dioxide into the atmosphere
o The nitric oxide and sulfur dioxide convert into sulfuric acid and nitric acid after reacting
with water vapor in the atmosphere
Contributes to human respiratory diseases, decreases visibility, and damages statues, national
monuments, buildings, metals, and car finishes
Also can leach toxic metals from soils and rocks in lakes which pollute the lake and also may
harm the aquatic ecosystem and people who may eat fish from them
o Lowers the pH in water and soil which makes it hard for fish to survive and also may
harm crops
To prevent acid deposition:
o Reduce coal use
o Burn low-sulfur coal
o Increase natural gas use
o Increase use of renewable energy resources
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Nicholas Todd
Daniel Aullet Smith
Kadeem Rayford
Phillip P Reavis
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o Remove SO2 particulates and NOx from smokestack gases
o Remove NOx from motor vehicular exhaust
o Tax emissions of SO2
o Reduce air pollution by improving energy efficiency
To clean up acid deposition:
o Add lime to neutralize acidified lakes
o Add phosphate fertilizer to neutralize acidified lakes