Global Air Pollution: Ozone Depletion and Climate Change

Ozone Layer

Stratospheric region with high ozone concentration to protect from UV radiation

A pollutants depends on

location

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Chemical compounds (hydrogen, carbon, chlorine, fluorine) that deplete the ozone layer. These are stable but break down in the atmosophere

Activities that deplete the ozone layer

CFCs and jet travel (SST) through the stratosphere

Nitric Oxide

Pollutant released by jets affecting ozone.

Where is the most ozone depletion seen?

Southern Hemisphere and Antarctica

What are the health affects of ozone depletion

skin cancer, cataracts, premature aging

Ecosystem Damage as a result of ozone depletion

ecosystems, crops, materials, finishes

How many International Treaties have been signed about ozone

three

HCFCs

Interim substitutes for CFCs, less harmful.

Ozone Recovery

Long process for ozone layer to heal, may take 200 years

Ozone Concentration Decline

Substantial decrease observed globally since 1969.

Atmospheric Pollution

Contamination affecting air quality and health.

What is acid deposition?

rain or snow that has less than 5.7 pH in unpolluted areas

Wet Deposition

Acidic rain or snow reaching the Earth.

Dry Deposition

Acid particles and gases settling on surfaces.

Acid Precursors

Substances that form acids, both natural and anthropogenic.

Where do acids come from anthropogenically

fossil fuel combustion

Natural acid precursor

volcanoes

Transportation of Precursors

Acid precursors can travel hundreds of kilometers.

Industrial Centers acid deposition

Major sources of acid deposition downwind.

Geographic Range of acid deposition

Acid deposition expanding in affected areas.

Acidified Lakes

Lakes with reduced pH, harming aquatic life.

Buffering Capacity

Soil's ability and surface water ability to resist pH changes.

Acidity and heavy metals

acidity leaches heavy metals, toxic to fish, from the soil

Salamanders and birds

Key species affected by acid deposition.

Nitric Acid and Sulfuric Acid

promote plant growth, and their negative affects outweigh benefits from fertilizing soil

Stopgap measures

Smokestack Scrubbers, Low-Sulfur Coal, Liming Lakes

Tradable Permits

Market-based strategy for controlling emissions.

How much sunlight is reflected and absorbed

1/3 reflected, 2/3 absorbed

Greenhouse gases

CO2, CH4, N2O, O3

Global Energy Balance

Equilibrium between incoming solar energy and outgoing heat.

What is responsible for the increase in daily temperatures, rainfall patterns, and the frequency and severity of storms

greenhouse gases

How long does an interglacial period take to complete

200,000 years

Acid Damage Cost

Billions lost due to acid effects on structures.

Major hurricanes

Four major hurricanes hit the U.S. in 2005.

Previous record of major hurricanes

Three major hurricanes in 2004.

Category 5 hurricanes

Three hurricanes exceeded 155 mph in 2005.

Adaptation rate in light of climate change

Rate of change exceeds organisms' adaptation ability.

Ocean currents

Warm tropical water flows northward in Atlantic.

Impact of glacier melting

Could disrupt global ocean currents.

Dwindling resources

Food, water, and energy supplies at risk.

Evidence of climate change

global CO2 levels, sea level, polar ice, global temperatures, glaciers, frequency/severity of storms/droughts

Forest loss

Accelerates carbon dioxide levels increase.

Uncertainty in climate change

Slows progress towards effective solutions.

Cost of greenhouse gas reduction

Believed to be less than climate change costs.

Solving climate change sustainably

reduced population means less fossil fuels and more forests means less CO2