HUMAN IMPACT ON THE ATMOSPHERE

Atmosphere Composition

Air Pollutionhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcWpkWBX04E

Air Pollutants (CO, NOx, SOx)

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)

Sulfur Oxides (SOx)

Industry Transportation Power generation

(burn fossil fuels)

Volcanoes Forest Fires Dust storms

Effects (CO, NOx, SOx)

Negatively affects human heath Respiratory system cardiac system eye irritation Cancer

Environment Damages plants, animals, ecosystems

Reduce (CO, NOx, SOx)

Reduce/Minimize

Alternative fuels Fuel efficiency Public transportation Clean Energy sources Recycle Regulations

A bit about leadhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrzCS0ZEar4

Pencils actually write with a form of carbon called GRAPHITE not lead.

Air Pollutants (Pb particulates)

Lead (Pb)

Metal processing (smelting)

Batteries

Transportation fuels

Particulatesdust smokesalt sprayfumes fog

mist

Volcanoes Forest Fires Dust storms

Effects (Pb particulates)

Negatively affects human heath Respiratory system cardiac system eye irritation Cancer

Environment Damages plants, animals, ecosystems

Reduce (Pb particulates)

Lead Alternative fuels Fuel efficiency Public

transportation Scrubbers in metal

industry Regulations

Particulate Minimize

construction and exposed ground

Reduce overall pollution

Less driving Alternative fuels

Acid Rainhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=893KB3s_jIA

Acid Rain

SO2 & NO2 + H2O = acid rain

*Industry

*Transportation

*Power generation

(burn fossil fuels)

*Volcanoes

*Forest Fires

*JUST ADD WATER

Effects of Acid Rain

Damages leaves, trees eventually die

Accumulates in soils damaging plants

Accumulates in lakes/streams kills fish disrupts entire ecosystem

Damages certain building materials (limestone, marble, concrete)

Reacts with certain metals

• Problem near industrial areas• Areas with non-reactive

bedrock/soil

Reduce/minimize Acid Rain

Clean energy (not fossil fuels especially coal)

Scrubbers on industry smoke stacks

Can increase lake pH but expensive and temporary

Photochemical Smoghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpTJYSu1CUs

Photochemical Smog

NOx + hydrocarbons (transportation exhaust) + solar radiation = TROPOSPHERIC OZONE + other hazardous substances

Big cities warm sunny climate Worse if air stays trapped in local area

Effects Photochemical Smog

Lung irritant

Interferes with photosynthesis

Damages plastic, rubber, and elastic materials

Reduction Photochemical Smog

Use mass transportation

Fuel efficient vehicles

Don’t fill gas tanks during daylight hours

Photochemical smog = tropospheric level ozone

Ozone Depletionhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBu3vltczRw

IN THE STRATOSPHERE

Ozone (O3) Depletion

Ozone (O3) molecules in STRATOSPHERE destroyed by

CFC chemicals - from Propellents Air conditioning Refridgerators solvents

Effects of Ozone (O3) Depletion

Skin cancers Cataract (eye damage)

Decreased plant health Damage to ocean phytoplankton

Fixing the Ozone ‘hole’

Problem noticed in 1970s

Montreal Protocol 1987 170 nations agreed to reduce or eliminate the production/use of CFC chemicals.

Showing improvement – expected to be ‘normal’ by 2050

The two Ozones

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLY8m-dXOxo

Tropospheric bad

Stratospheric good

Greenhouse Effect

Greenhouse effect – gasses in our atmosphere keep temperature moderated by trapping sun’s energy It is good and important for life

Carbon dioxide CO2 Methane CH4

Water vapor H2O See Atmosphere Structure notes for sources

Before we ta

lk about Global

warming….

Greenhouse Effecthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzCA60WnoMk

Global Warming

an increase in greenhouse effect (temperatures)

Because of human caused increase in CO2 emissions Burn fossil fuels deforestation

Projected Results

Ice melt (glaciers, Arctic, Antarticta)

Sea level rise

Ocean Acidification

Extinction, spread of tropical diseases, etc.

What to do?

Clean energy, energy efficiency, car pool

Less use of fossil fuels

Reforestation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJAbATJCugs

Fossil Fuelshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YHsxXEVB1M

Fossil Fuels

Coal, Natural Gas, Oil

Formed from ancient plants/animals (350-225 Million years ago)

Underground mined or drilled/pumped out

Produce air pollutants and greenhouse gasses when burned

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6VCTh1iWdM

Renewable Energy Sources

Solar Wind Hydroelectric (dams – tides) Geothermal

Expensive to set up, manufacturing can produce pollutants, localized area