Activity 11 - Climate Change And Air Pollution

Troposphere

Where weather happens and the lowest layer of the atmosphere

Troposphere

This atmosphere is found from the surface to about 10 km

Nitrogen

The most abundant element in the troposphere

Stratosphere

This is the layer of the atmosphere where jets fly

Stratosphere

This atmosphere is located about 10-15km about troposphere

Climate

Long-term atmospheric conditions

Weather

short-term atmospheric conditions

Greenhouse Effect

a natural process where the Earth's atmosphere traps heat, warming the planet and making it habitable for life

Carbon Dioxide

caused by fossil fuel burning

Methane

Breakdown of organic material by anaerobic bacteria

Nitrous Oxide

Caused by biomass burning, automobile exhaust

Ozone

Caused by autmobile exhaust

Chlorofluorocarbon

Caused by rerigerants, cleaning solvents, propellants

Paleoclimatology

The scientific study of past climates, particularly those predating the era of direct instrumental records

Paleoecology

The study of how organism and their environments interacted across geological timescales

Ozone

An element in the stratosphere that protects life on the surface of the earth from harmful UV solar radiation

Chlorofluorocarbon

Is a compound that break down ozone in stratosphere

Primary Air Pollutants (CVPSN)

Carbon Monoxide

Volatile Organic Compounds

Particulates

Sulfur Dioxide

Nitrogen Oxides

Carbon Monoxide

This compound is produced when organic materials are incompletely burned

Hydrocarbons

Group of organic compounds consisting of carbon and hydrogen

Particulates

Minute pieces of solid materials dispered into the atmosphere

Sulfur Dioxide

• Sulfur and oxygen compound produced when sulfur-containing fossil fuels are burned

• Burning coal is primary artificial source

Nitrogen Oxides

Formed when combustion takes place in the air

Secondary Air Pollutants

Ozone
PANS
Aldehydes

Photochemical Smog

• Brown-air smog

• Some primarhy pollutants react under the influence of sunlight (photochemical reaction)

• Common in urban areas of the west US

Industrial Smog

• Gray-air smog

• From burning coal and oil (particulates, sulfure dioxide, sulfuric acid)

Thermal Inversion

• Warm air normally near surface, pollutants disperse as air rises and mixes

• When cool air trapped under warm air, confined by mountains, pollutants do not disperse, intesify with time

Barometer

A device used to measure atmospheric pressure

Wind Vane

Tool used to indicate direction from which the wind is blowing

Anemometer

An instrument used to measure wind speed

Rain Gauge

An instrument used to measure amounts of precipitation

Doppler Radar

Radar that uses the Doppler effect on water droplets in clouds to measure the wind speed and direction