http://www.stateoftheair.org

Pollution Quizhttp://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/pollution-quiz/

http://maria79.tumblr.com

UNIT 3 ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION

Essential Questions

Over the course of industrial history, what have we learned about atmospheric pollution?

How does today’s increased population and industrial use impact the atmosphere?

What does the future hold in terms of prevention of atmospheric pollution?

http://www.tropical-rainforest-animals.com/air-pollution.html

Section 1: Introduction

1. Explain what caused the Great Smog of 1952 in London, England.

• There were unusually cold temperatures in London, so residents burned large quantities of coal in their fireplaces to keep warm.

• Moisture in the air began condensing into fog near the ground.

• The fog mixed with smoke from domestic fires and emissions from factories and diesel-powered buses.

• Cold air kept the fog trapped near the ground.

http://thomasketchell.wordpress.com/2012/11/27/history-retweetedtwistory-covers-the-greatsmog-of-london-1952/attachment/037/

http://www.flickriver.com/photos/durruti/413232968/

The Great Smog of 1952http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/media/image/m/p/case_study_large_great_smog02.jpg

http://www.sino-us.com/145/The-Great-London-Smog-of-1952.html

2. Discuss some of the consequences of the Great Smog.

Some 4,000 people died in London between December 5-9 of illnesses linked to respiratory problems such as bronchitis and pneumonia, and the smog's effects caused another 8,000 deaths over the next several months. The event spurred some of the first governmental actions to reduce emissions from fuel combustion, industrial operations, and other manmade sources.

https://blogs.oracle.com/robsblog/entry/the_great_smog_of_1952

3. List (4) effects of air pollution.

• threatens human health • damage ecosystems • weaken Earth's stratospheric ozone

shield• contribute to global climate change

http://www.visibility911.org/the-far-reaching-health-effects-of-911-air-pollution/

4. Understanding of pollutants is still evolving, but we have learned enough to develop emission control policies that can limit their harmful effects.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/fightairpollution/

In many cities, current concentrations of particulate matter exceed the limit values established by the European Union. In the first 3 months of 2005, for example, the daily limit value was exceeded on more than 30 days in several German cities.

Courtesy Zakysant. Wikimedia Commons, GNU Free Documentation License.

5. The science of air pollution centers on measuring, tracking, and predicting concentrations of key chemicals in the atmosphere.

Section 2: Chemicals in Motion

http://thesurvivalofgeneration.tumblr.com/

6. List the (4) types of processes that affect air pollution levels

• Emissions

• Chemistry

• Transport

• Deposition

http://www.earthzine.org/2012/11/26/a-geoss-perspective-on-air-quality-and-health-in-europe-the-egida-methodology/

 

anthropogenic emissions

 

come from human activities, such as burning fossil fuel

 

biogenic emissions 

produced by natural functions of biological organisms, such as microbial breakdown of organic materials

nonliving natural sources  

volcanic eruptions and desert dust

7. Complete the table below for emission types and sources that affect air pollution levels.

Types Sources

8. Air pollution trends are strongly affected by atmospheric conditions such as as temperature, pressure, and humidity, and by global circulation patterns.

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9. Transport is fastest along which routes? east-west routes

10. How long can it take longitudinal winds (west-east) to move air around the globe? a few weeks How long can it takeair exchanges from north to south to move? months or longer

https://www2.ucar.edu/news/backgrounders/weather-maker-glossary

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Processes related to atmospheric composition

11. Local weather patterns also interact with

and affect air pollution. What types of precipitation can carry atmospheric pollutants to Earth? rain and snow

12. Cold air is (lighter or heavier) than warm air, so temperature inversions limit vertical mixing and trap pollutants near Earth's surface.

http://kodiakhaakansons.blogspot.com/2012/03/from-portland-to-gold-beach.html

Smog over Los AngelesGeography, climate, and a high concentration of pollution sources create endemic air pollution problems in the Los Angeles basin.

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13. Discuss the factors that cause Los Angeles, CA to be prone to air pollution? Los Angeles sits in a bowl, ringed by mountains to the north and east that trap pollutants in the urban basin. In warm weather, cool sea breezes are drawn onshore at ground level, creating temperature inversions that prevent pollutants from rising and dissipating. The region's diverse manufacturing and industrial emitters and millions of cars and trucks produce copious primary air pollutants that mix in its air space to form photochemical smog

http://www.chitambo.com/clouds/cloudshtml/smog.html

14.What (2) ways can scientists measure air pollutants?

directly when they are emitted or as concentrations in the ambient outdoor air

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15. To track ambient concentrations, researchers create networks of air-monitoring stations. List (5) places where these may be found.

• ground-based • mounted on vehicles • mounted on balloons • mounted on airplanes • mounted on satellites

http://ec.gc.ca/air-sc-r/default.asp?lang=En&n=E93A0309-1

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16.In the laboratory, scientists use tools including laser spectrometers and electron microscopes to identify specific pollutants.

They measure chemical reaction rates in clear plastic bags ("smog chambers") that replicate the smog environment under controlled conditions, and observe emission of pollutants from combustion and other sources.

http://archive.sciencewatch.com/dr/fbp/2010/10octfbp/10octfbpJimeET/

Smog chamber

17.Knowledge of pollutant emissions, chemistry, and transport can be incorporated into computer simulations ("air quality models") to predict how specific actions, such as

requiring new vehicleemission controls and cleaner-burning fuels, will benefit ambient air quality.

http://www.car-emissions-explained.co.uk/2011/01/in-car-emission-control.html