AIR POLLUTION ANTI-LECTURETargets:

Describe the sources of air pollution and the effects of different pollutants in the air.

Explain how environmental changes can increase or decrease air pollution in an area.

What is air pollution?

What causes what we see?

Major Classes of Pollutants found in Ambient Air

1. Carbon oxides2. Sulfur oxides3. Nitrogen oxides4. VOCs5. SPM6. Radioactive substances7. HAPs

Major Outdoor Air Pollutants - EPA CO2

NO2

SO2

SPM Ozone Lead

Primary and Secondary Pollutants Primary: emitted during into troposphere

in a potentially harmful form Secondary: formed when primary

pollutants react with one another

Stationary vs. Mobile Sources Stationary – power plants and factories Mobile – motor vehicles

Remember the electric vehicle FRQ!

Photochemical Smog

VOCs + SOx + heat + sunlight (UV radiation) ground level O3 + other photochemical oxidants + aldehydes + other secondary air pollutants

Also known as the red-air smog Occurs in areas with sunny, warm and

wet climates

Photochemical Smog - Formation Process starts inside automobile engines

and boilers of coal-burning power and industrial plants

Due to the high temperatures in there, S and O in the air react to produce sulfur dioxide.

In the atmosphere, some of the SO2 converts to SO3 which causes the red haze hanging over cities

Photochemical Smog – Formation con’t

Some of the SO2 reacts with hydrocarbons to produce photochemical smog – ozone, nitric acid, aldehydes, PANs, and other secondary pollutants.

When days are hotter, there are lower levels of ozone .

Industrial Smog

Consists mostly of NO2, aerosols containing nitric acid, and SPMs

Also known as brown-air smog due to SPM of salts and soot

Found predominately in developed countries with heavy industrialized areas

Industrial Smog - Formation

When burned, C in coal and oil is converted to CO2 and CO. Some also ends up as soot.

N in coal and oil reacts with oxygen to produce NO2

Ammonium sulfate forms when ammonia reacts with suspended droplets of sulfuric acid

Factors that Reduce Air Pollution Rain and snow Salty sea spray Mountains and hills

Factors that Increase Air Pollution Winds Urban buildings High temperatures Grasshopper effect

What is a temperature inversion and how does it occur?

Temperature Inversions

Layer of cool air lies on top of warm air trapping it near the ground.

Pollutants concentrate in the stagnant warmer air and can’t disperse

Areas Susceptible to Temperature Inversions

Towns and cities located in a valley surrounded by mountains where they experience cold and cloudy weather Mountains and clouds block winter sun

• Cities with several million people and motor vehicles