Air Pollution

• Definitions

• History - Patterns & Principles

• Examples: SO2, Acid Rain, Ozone, Particulates (Aerosols and soot)

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New standard = 75 ppb

Definitions• Air pollution

• Standards

• Acute versus chronic

• Point versus non-point sources• Asbestos, Pb, O3, Hg, Particulates, SO2,

NOx, CO, 188 toxins

• Global: Acid rain, climate change, O3 (stratospheric)

• Health and Ecosystem Protection: acid rain, UV, Visibility

• Indoor air: asthma, CO, mold, radon, smoke

• Primary: Human Health

• Secondary: Services and Facilities

• Visibility

• Acute: High concentrations, short- or long-term, immediate health effects or visible damage

• Chronic: Low concentrations, long-term, produces weakened organisms

Crude Examination of History

-3300 BC-5300 YBP

Ötzi - man

2008‘Present’

Long-distanceTransportOzoneOzone-CO2 interactionsParticulates(aerosols & soot)Heavy metals

Climate Change

Takehome lessons:1. Presence since fire (or longer)2. Natural ---- Anthropogenic3. In your face, simple, acute4. Everywhere, pervasive, chronic,

complex5. Role of development, technology

Ötzi - der Mensch aus dem Eis

ArsenicCopper

http://www.viewzone.com/oetzi.html

Crude Examination of History

-3300 BC-5300 YBP

Ötzi - man

Impacts: Individual, human health Visible damage black smoke

Industrial Revolution

AcuteLocalPointSO2

Today

North America’s Largest Sources of SO2

• Sudbury, Ontario, Canada (1883 to present)

• Copper Hill/Duck Town, Tennesse (Pre-European to 1983)

• ASARCO Smelter - Tacoma (1890 - 1985)

• Anaconda Smelter - MT (1884 - 1980)• Smelterville/Kellogg, Idaho (1888 - 1981)• Trail BC

History Continued - SudburySmelting of Nickel & CopperPoint Source

1890Ground Level RoastingBeds

1928RoastingBeds - goneTall stacks

1972SuperStack1250’

Acute to ChronicLocal to DistantSimple to Complex

1883First Mine

http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/envision/sudbury/air_quality/index.htm

1990’sFurtherReductions

Sudbury - Ecological EffectsAcute, Point-Source Air Pollution: Principle

90 miles7000 LakesWaste Land

I I - Visible Damage on sensitive species

II

II - Sensitive tree species dies, other trees show deformed crowns

Stages of Acute Air Pollution Damage

III

III - Shrubs and herbaceous plants die

IV

IV - Only most tolerant plants alive

+

Crude Examination of History

-3300 BC-5300 YBP

Ötzi - man

Age of the AutomobileBeginning ofsignificant regulations

ChronicDispersedNon-pointComplexSmogAcid Precipitation

2008‘Present’

Long-distanceTransportOzoneOzone-CO2 interactionsParticulates(aerosols & soot)Heavy metals

Climate Change

Regulations/Laws

Transition from Acute, Point Source, Local to Chronic, Non-point

source (or multiple), Distant• Acid Precipitation

• Result of transferring problem from local to distant

• Application of technologies to reduce smoke and soot

• Takes incredible detective work, especially with terrestrial vs. aquatic systems

• Greatest financial impact is on structures

Tree & Ecosystem Images - Acid Rain

Smog and LA

≤ 60 ppb> 125 ppb

Example of an Ozone Episode

Ozone Formed

• Correct precursors

• Sun light, warm temperatures

• Inversion

General Principle

• Chronic levels of a pollutant do not kill humans, or plants outright; weaken.

• A weakened person or plant -- Plant: its productivity or ability to make

biomass decreases. How might this affect a trophic pyramid or prices of food?

Human: Immune system compromised• Other stressors• THEN some other factor usually kills the

human or plant.

Today

• Laws and Regulations: Clean Air Act of 1970 and most recent modifications

• Combinations of ozone and elevated carbon dioxide.

• Long-distance transport• Soot and aerosols• Yoram’s lecture: Cap and trade model for

controlling SO2

Crude Examination of History

-3300 BC-5300 YBP

Ötzi - man

2008‘Present’

OzoneOzone-CO2 interactionsParticulates(aerosols & soot)Heavy metals

Climate Change

Long-distanceTransport

Climate Problems/Global Change/Air Pollution 21st Century

• Greenhouse gases: global warming (CO2, CFCs, NOx, CH4, H20)

• Air pollution: NOx, SO2, haze, aerosols, O3, heavy metals (Hg, Pb, Cd), organic compounds

• Ozone depletion: O3

Contrails

In the article by Travis and Carleton (2002), they used the abbreviation

DTR. DTR = ?

1. Diffuse transmitted radiation

2. Diurnal temperature range

3. Delta transfer

4. Delayed transmission

Results

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DTR = Daily temperature range

1971 - 2000

Tmax - Tmin = DTR; set to zero for 1971 - 2000. Above the line, greater, below the line smaller.

Mechanism

Day Day Night Night

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Contrails No ContrailsNo Contrails

Warmer

Colder

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Contrails

Aerosols, Haze and Soot

V. Ramanathan in his testimony before Congress maintains that BC has the

following characteristics: (select the false statement; three statements are true)

1. Is spread rapidly

2. Has major health impacts

3. Has a major impact on global warming

4. Has a relatively long atmospheric life-time

Very Impressive Person

Aerosols, BC and Climate Change

Day

Aerosols

Global Dimming

Aerosols & SootThe good old days

Global Transport

Synthesis

Carbon Cycle Nitrogen Cycle Sulfur Cycle

Photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition/fire fossil fuels/biofuels

CO2 N2OCH4

SO2

CombustionN - cycle processes

Biotic production of reduced sulfur gases by bacteriaVolcanoesCombustion

NO2

Greenhouse gases

SO4=

NO3-

Acid precipitation

SO4=

Aerosols

Summary

• Definitions

• Principles

• History

• Dan Jaffe’s Lecture on Wednesday– Long-distance transport– Tighter regulations/standards

• Yoram’s lecture on Friday– Cap and trade– Taxes

Orphaned Slides from previous Lectures

• Emphasis on Acid Precipitation

• What it is

• How it impacts ecosystems

Acid Rain - 1

http://www.umac.org/ocp/4/info.html

H+ SO4= NO3

-

Acid Rain - 2

Bottomline:

• H+ is being added

• SO4= is being added

• NO3- is being added

Acid Rain - 3

Acid Rain - Effects on Forest Ecosystems

Crude Examination of History

-3300 BC-5300 YBP

Ötzi - man

Age of the Automobile

ChronicDispersedNon-pointComplexSmogAcid Precipitation

2008‘Present’

Long-distanceTransportOzoneOzone-CO2 interactionsParticulates(aerosols & soot)Heavy metals

Climate Change

Impacts: Individual, human health Non-human impacts Visibility

Regulations/LawsIssues of Social Justice

Industrial Revolution

AcuteLocalPointSO2

Acid Rain - Effects on Forest & Aquatic Ecosystems: Major

Detective’s job• Shallow rooted trees and plants

Where do plants get theirrequired water and nutrients?CO2 - airN - soil & decomposition & input of NO3

Other minerals (Ca, Mg, K) - decomposition & weathering

Continued

ParentMaterial

• Geology of parent material• Certain soils are more susceptible to acid rain• Low soil carbon - poor acid buffering capacity

Rocks (minerals)

Secondary minerals (clays)

Weathering1. Parent material2. Climate3. Topography4. Vegetation5. Time

Chemical &Physical

Continued• H+ acts to remove K+, Mg+, Mn+, Ca++

• NO3- combines with K+, Mg+, Mn+, Ca++

• Combination is very soluble, leaches out• If H+ very high, then Al+++ is removed.

ParentMaterial

Clay - Ca++

Organic matter - K+

Clay - H+ Ca++NO3-

Organic matter -H+ K+ NO3-

Clay - H+ Al+++ Organic matter -H+