GEOL 108 - Crises of a PlanetLab 11 - Air Pollution

Nov. 13 - 16, 2012

Department of Earth Sciences

Department of Earth Sciences

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QUIZ 9 REVIEWLabel the wells in the figure below with the appropriate letter, using each letter once. Draw a dashed line representing a possible potentiometric surface.

Department of Earth Sciences

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QUIZ 9 REVIEWIn last week’s demonstration, in what direction did groundwater flow in the groundwater model (the ant farm up front).

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QUIZ 9 REVIEWExtreme ground subsidence has occurred in the San Joaquin Valley, California, causing the land surface to drop up to 30 feet in elevation. How might this occur by over pumping of the aquifer?

Bonus: The geologist president

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LAB 11 - AIR POLLUTION

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AIR POLLUTION IN HISTORY• St. Louis - 1939

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AIR POLLUTION IN HISTORY• London - 1952• 6-12,000 killed

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AIR POLLUTION IN HISTORY• Beijing Olympics 2008

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AIR POLLUTION AROUND THE WORLD• NO2 around the world• Leads to production of ozone in the lower atmosphere

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PARTICULATE MATTER• Tiny bits of solid or liquid suspended in a gas• Linked to asthma, lung cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory

disease, birth defects.• PM10 refers to particles less than 10 microns (1 x 10-5 meters)• The smallest particles can pass through cell membranes

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POLLUTION COMPOSITION

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ALTERNATIVE FUELS

Compressed Natural Gas

Compared to diesel buses, reduces emissions of particulates by 90%, carbon monoxide by 80%, and greenhouse gases by 20%

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ALTERNATIVE FUELSHydrogen

Car emits only water vapor, but the most common source for hydrogen is natural gas, which releases greenhouse gases during production.

Additional challenges with building infrastructure.

Existing hydrogen fueling stations in LA

Department of Earth Sciences

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AIR POLLUTION IN LOS ANGELES• Geography and climate of LA enhances smog effect

− Though air temperature usually decreases with elevation in the troposphere, this is not the case in Los Angeles

− Layer of warm air above city prevents normal circulation− Typically sunny days initiates reactions that create smog

Ritter, Michael E. The Physical Environment: an Introduction to Physical Geography.http://rustylopez.typepad.com/imagoarticulus/2007/02/inversion_layer.html