CHEM2008 1-1

Atmospheric Chemistry

Introduction and Background

Professor Tim Wright A45

Tim.Wright@nottingham.ac.uk
 Recommended Books CHEM2008 1-2
Chemistry of Atmospheres R. P. Wayne
(3rd Edition, and earlier ones - library)

Atmospheric Pollution M. Z. Jacobson

(available as ebook and hard copy - library)
Air Pollution and Global Warming
(available as hard copy - library)
[The two books above are different editions, with the second being
an updated version of the first, but the first will still have the key
facts in it.]

Atmospheric Chemistry A. Holloway and R. P. Wayne

(hard copy - library)
 Format of Course CHEM2008 1-3
 The usual assessment of the module will be via a 2 hour exam (watch out
for announcements!).

 All questions will be shorter specific questions. There will be no optional

questions. The questions will cover the breadth of the course.

 PDF of slides is on Moodle page, so you can add notes as you view the
lectures – slides are numbered (excluding clues and asides).

• Lecture engagement: will do these every

other week. I will answer any questions
“on the day”, and review any queries I
have had via email.
 CHEM2008 1-4
What is the atmosphere?
•For different people it is different things:

•Romantic:
-somewhere to observe sunsets
 CHEM2008 1-5
What is the atmosphere?
•For different people it is different things:

•Meteorologist:
-sink for solar energy that leads to weather
 CHEM2008 1-6
What is the atmosphere?
•For different people it is different things:

•Astronomer
-a regrettable necessity
 CHEM2008 1-7
What is the atmosphere?
•For different people it is different things:

•Biologist
-a life-support system
 CHEM2008 1-8
What is the atmosphere?
•For different people it is different things:

•Romantic: somewhere to observe sunsets

•Meteorologist: sink for solar energy that leads to weather
•Astronomer: a regrettable necessity
•Biologist: a life-support system
•For the chemist :
the atmosphere can be viewed as a large chemical reactor, or
indeed as a number of chemical reactors.

We shall see that:

• the physical properties of the atmosphere (or regions of it)
have a large impact on the chemistry that is observed;
• also, the chemistry has a large effect on the physical
properties of the atmosphere.
 What Affects a Chemical Reaction? CHEM2008 1-9
Temperature

Pressure

Concentration (and the species present)

Le Chatelier’s Principle:
A system at equilibrium, when subjected to a disturbance,
responds in such a way that tends to minimize the effect of that
disturbance.
Internal Energy of the Species (related to temperature)
translational
rotational
vibrational
electronic
 CHEM2008 1-10
What is Pollution?

Dictionary definition
• Pollution is the addition to the environment of contamination
(i.e. the occurrence in a certain area) of waste materials.
 CHEM2008 1-11
Practical Classification
Degradable
Oxidised in the environment by chemical and biological means.
Sewage, paper, straw, food wastes etc.
Fertilisers
Materials containing nitrates and phosphates. Not just farming!
Washing powders contain significant amounts of phosphate.
Particulates
Clay dusts, fly ash, particulate emission from internal combustion
engines.
Dissipating
Highly localised effect but are readily dispersed and diluted. Examples
here include acids, alkalis but heat and noise are also good examples.
Conservative
Recyclable wastes. Examples are obvious but include plastics, metals
etc.
 CHEM2008 1-12
Atmospheric Pollution
isoprene
Atmospheric Emissions

Natural Emissions
Volcanism CO 2, SO2, HCl
Geological CH4, Non-methane Hydrocarbons (NMHCs)
Wet-lands N 2O, CH4, H2S (anaerobic)
Plants Isoprene Derivatives
Sea Microflora and Microfauna Dimethyl sulfide, Dimethyl disulfide

Anthroprogenic Emissions

Internal C om bustion C O 2, C O , N O , N O 2
P ow er G eneration C O 2, S O 2
S olvents V olatile O rganic C om pounds (V O C s)
F uels C H 4 , N on-m ethane H ydrocarbons
R efrigeration C F C s, H alons, H C F C s, H F C s

Man-made sources almost always add to a significant

natural load
 CHEM2008 1-13
Atmospheric Pollution
Is it a dissipating waste?
• In a local sense - YES
• For example a strong wind will disperse a smog event.
• On a larger scale - NO
• Atmosphere is global.
• Wind etc. may dilute and move atmospheric pollution, not remove it.

For example, nitrogen oxide pollution from London and the

South-East can be carried to rural East Anglia where in the
summer it can lead to high ozone levels.

Similarly, sulfur dioxide emissions from the large coal-fired

power stations in South Yorkshire are carried across the North
Sea to Germany, Norway etc.

pollutantdeposition.defra.gov.uk
 CHEM2008 1-14
Atmospheric Pollution

Collation and International Scientific Bodies

Critical Assessment UNESCO,
Research Inputs IUPAC and IUPAP,
IPCC etc.

Regulation
vs. Recommendations
Impetus for
further research Prohibition

Legislation International Political

e.g. EU Directives and Trade Bodies
National Legislation UN, EU, WTO, G8 etc.
 CHEM2008 1-15
Atmospheric Pollution
Field
Measurements

Variation in concentrations of trace

species and pollutants with time and
location

Atmospheric Laboratory
Modelling Studies
Reaction Mechanisms
Chemical Modelling Branching Ratios
Mass and Energy Transport Rate Coefficients and their
Weather Modelling Temperature Dependence
Chemical evolution of the atmosphere on a
timescale similar to weather forecasts and on much
longer timescales (days, weeks, years, decades etc.)
 CHEM2008 1-16
Atmospheric Pollution
In these lectures we will look at
• Formation and destruction of stratospheric ozone
• Formation of photochemical smog and tropospheric ozone
pollution
• Acid precipitation
• Greenhouse effect/Global warming
• Ions in the atmosphere
…and then look at how we gain information via
• Aspects of atmospheric monitoring
• Laboratory studies of atmospheric reactions
• Modelling