Acid Rain, Smog, Ozone Depletion

what are the sources of acid rain

transportation, combustion of fossil fuels, volcanic eruptions, forest fires, ligthening

What is the pH of normal rainfall

5.6

What is the pH of acid rainfall

anything with a pH less than 5.6

What areas are most prone to acid rain

New York and Pennsylvania - due to coal burning power plants in Ohio

Primary pollutants of acid rain

sulfur dioxide (So₂) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x)

Secondary pollutants of acid rain

sulfuric acid and nitric acid

wildlife effects of acid rain

young of species are more sensitive to environmental conditions, lower pH levels are outside the tolerance range for most species

Forest effects of acid rain

weakens trees (damages leaves, limiting nutrients available, low pH leeches aluminum and mercury into environment which is toxic to producers)

Human impacts from acid rain

no direct impacts but acid rain can effect food, water security, and infrastructure made of marble and limestone

Solutions to acid rain

Scrubber (chemically converts or physically removes pollutants before they leave the smoke stacks)

Cap and trade program (regulates criteria pollutants and hazardous air pollutants, imposed emission limits, introduced emissions trading for SO₂)

Sources of Gray Smog

coal burning (SO₂)

Sources of brown smog

Transportation (NO_x) (breakdown of organic matter)

Primary pollutants of Gray smog

SO₂, particulate matter

Primary pollutants of brown smog

NO_x, VOCs (incomplete gas combustion of cars)

Secondary pollutants of Gray smog

sulfuric acid

Secondary pollutants of brown smog

ozone and formaldehyde

What time of day does smog peak

During rush hour because everyone is starting their cars which emits more VOCs

environmental effects of Smog

smog takes oxygen in the atmosphere and interferes with oxygen exchange

human effects of smog

respiratory distress due to particulate matter

Technology solutions for smog

clean air act, catalytic converter (catalyzes reactions)

Is tropospheric ozone good or bad

bad (nearby)

Is stratospheric ozone good or bad

good (up high)

Formation of stratospheric ozone

O+O₂ → O₃ (O₃ is the ozone)

Destruction of stratospheric ozone

O₃+ UV →O+O₂

Rates of stratospheric ozone formation and destruction

rate that the ozone forms is the same rate that it breaks down

Tropospheric ozone

NO + VOCs → formaldehyde

O₃ + photochemical oxidant →smog

What is the first step of ozone depletion

CFC + UV →Cl

CFC deconstructs under UV light forming chlorine

What is the second step of ozone depletion

Cl + O₃ →ClO+ O₂

ozone and chlorine combine and the chlorine breaks down the ozone, the chlorine takes one of the ozone’s oxygens (this can’t be reversed)

What is the third step of ozone depletion

ClO + O → Cl + O₂

The chlorine breaks off the oxygen so it is now free and can repeat the process all over again

Rates of ozone depletion formation and destruction

the formation rate stays the same but the destruction rate rises

What does the ozone do

blocks harmful UV rays

which UV rays are good and bad

UVA = good, vitamin D

UVC = bad, disinfectant

how long can a chlorine atom stay in the stratosphere for

100 years

Sources of ozone depletion

CFCs - improper disposal of aerosols, refrigerators, and air conditioners

What time of the year does ozone depletion peak

peaks during the polar spring

its very dark and cold in Antarctica winter, during this time it forms ice crystals, the ice crystals act as a surface for chlorine to bond with, in the spring the ice crystals melt causing the chlorine atoms to break off and target the ozone

environmental impact of ozone depletion

plants - reduces crop yield, interferes with photosynthesis

Animals - cataracts, sunburn, genetic mutations

human impacts of ozone depletion

ski cancer from UV exposure, cataracts, weakened immune response

Solutions for ozone depletion

Montreal protocol - agreement between countries that say they will reduce or ban the use of CFCs

What are the 6 criteria air pollutants

1. sulfur oxides

2. nitrogen oxides

3. carbon oxides

4. particulate matter

5. lead

6. ozone

Primary source definition

directly from the source

secondary source definition

created

What is needed for tropospheric ozone

sunlight