ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT

AND CLIMATE CHANGE

08
Cristina Cabanacan-Salibay, PhD
Professor of Biology

Planet Earth is bathed in sunlight which warmth the land, ocean, and
atmosphere. Atmospheric gases emitted during the process play a great role
in providing balance on Earth. However, any change on the amount of heat-
trapping gases emitted globally could result to disruption of the balance of
Earth’s climate followed by global warming.

At the end of this module, the students should be able to:

1. Identify the importance of Carbon cycle on Earth’s climate in
maintaining balance of atmospheric gases;
2. Assume one’s role in maintaining a healthy environment through
practice and compliance with environmental laws and policies;
3. Take a personal responsible action against pollution such as to change
their consumption patterns by recycling more and producing less
waste.
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9.1 The Earth’s atmosphere

The atmosphere helps protect living organisms from genetic damag

eby solar ultraviolet radiation, solar wind and cosmic rays.
The atmosphere of Earth is mostly composed of nitrogen (78%),
oxygen (21%), argon (0.9%) with carbon dioxide and other gases i
n trace amounts. The table below highlights the significance of these
present on the earth’s atmosphere.

Table 1. Significant atmospheric gases

Atmospheric gas Significance

Nitrogen A gas which is fixed by bacteria and lightning
to produce ammonia which is used in the
building of nucleotides and amino acids.

Oxygen A gas used by most organisms for respiration.

Argon A noble gas obtained from the air as a

byproduct of the production of oxygen and
nitrogen. Other noble gases in trace amounts
are neon, helium, krypton, and xenon.

Carbon dioxide One of the trace gases and used for

photosynthesis by photosynthetic algae,
plants and cyanobacteria. Other trace gases
are methane, hydrogen, nitrous oxide, ozone,
iodine, carbon monoxide, and ammonia.

Water vapour A gas found in the lower layer or altitude of

the atmosphere. It accounts for roughly
0.25% of the atmosphere by mass.

9.1 The atmosphere and Carbon Cycle

Carbon is the main component of biological compounds and many
mineral deposits like limestone. The carbon cycle refers to the
exchange of Carbon among four reservoirs: the atmosphere, the
oceans, land, and fossil fuels. Carbon may be transferred from one
reservoir to another in seconds (the fixation of atmospheric CO2 into
sugar through photosynthesis) or over decades or millennia (the
accumulation of fossil carbon like coal, oil, gas) through deposition
and diagenesis of organic matter.

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 Importance of carbon cycle:
1. Carbon forms the structure of all life on Earth as it makes up about
50% of the dry weight of all life forms.

2. The carbon cycle (Figure ___) approximates the flows of energy

around the Earth, and the metabolism of every system- be it
natural, human or industrial.

3. The Earth's average temperature without the greenhouse gases

would be −33°C. Carbon, in the form of carbon dioxide (CO 2) and
methane (CH4), contribute to a natural greenhouse effect that has
kept the planet warm enough to evolve and support life.

Figure ____. Diagram of a carbon cycle

9.3 How does carbon cycle affect Global Warming?

The carbon cycle plays a key role in regulating
Earth's global temperature and climate by controlling the amount
of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The greenhouse effect itself is
a naturally occurring phenomenon that makes Earth warm enough
for life to exist.

When carbon is stored in different natural reservoirs other than the

ocean, land, or the air particles it tends to be released into the

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 atmosphere as greenhouse gases, having an impact on climate
change.

The increased use of fossil fuels has drawn concern in the carbon
cycle because of the imbalance in the release and consumption of
carbon dioxide in nature. Hence, this led to the elevated level of
greenhouse gases.

9.4 Sources of Emissions

Air pollutants can be released directly into the atmosphere (primary
emissions) or can form as a result of chemical interaction involving
precursor substances. The sources of emission can be man-made or
natural.

Man-made sources

Burning of fossil fuels coming from households, industry, electricity

generation and transport;

Industrial processes and solvent use exemplified by chemical and

mining industries;

Agriculture: Most farm-related emissions come in the form of

methane (CH4) from cattle belching and nitrous oxide (N2O) from
natural or synthetic fertilizers and wastes to soils.

Waste treatment: These treatment plants produce direct emissions

of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane
(CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O).

Natural sources

Volcanic eruptions. These emit water vapor and toxic gases into
the atmosphere such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen
sulfide, hydrochloric acid and carbon monoxide.

Windblown dust or Soil dust. This is emitted through wind erosion

and wildfires.

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Table ____. The greenhouse gases*
Gases Properties Produced or Found Effect on the climate
Carbon A colorless It is released through The excessive rise of CO2 concentration in the
Dioxide odorless gas natural processes atmosphere contribute to change in temperature
(CO2) consisting of like respiration and
molecules made volcano eruptions
up of two oxygen
atoms and one Human activities
carbon atom such as
deforestation, land
use changes, and
burning fossil fuels
contribute to its
released in the
environment.
Methane A colorless, It is produced Affects climate by increasing Earth's
(CH4) odorless non-toxic through natural temperature.
gas consisting of sources and human It has a global warming potential of 34 compared to
molecules made activities, such as 1 only for CO2 over a 100-year period.
up of four decomposition of
hydrogen atoms wastes in landfills,
and one carbon agriculture, and
atom especially rice
cultivation, as well
as ruminant
digestion and

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 manure
management
associated with
domestic livestock.
Nitrous A colorless, non- It is found and Nitrous oxide has an atmospheric lifetime of 110
Oxide flammable gas naturally produced in years. It is not only a greenhouse gas, but also
(N2O) with a sweetish oceans and rain an ozone destroyer.
odor, commonly forests. It is also a
known as powerful gas
"laughing gas", produced by soil
and sometimes cultivation practices,
used as an especially the use of
anesthetic commercial and
organic fertilizers,
fossil fuel
combustion, nitric
acid production, and
biomass burning.
Sulfur It is an inorganic, It comes from It has a global warming potential of 23,900x that
Hexafluoride colorless, electric power of CO2 when compared over a 100-year period.
(SF6) odorless, non- plants. It is an Sulfur hexafluoride is inert in the troposphere and
flammable, non- excellent electrical stratosphere
toxic but insulator. It has an estimated atmospheric lifetime of 800–
extremely potent 3,200 years.
greenhouse gas.
It is a hypervalent

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 molecule consists
of six fluorine
atoms attached to
a central sulfur
atom. It is SF6 is
very persistent
with an
atmospheric
lifetime of more
than a thousand
years
Hydrofluoro- It is an organic They are frequently It contributes to global warming, with thousands
carbons compounds that used in air of times the warming potential of carbon dioxide
(HFCs) contain fluorine conditioning and
and hydrogen as refrigerants.
atoms. It is also
the most common
type of
organofluorine
compounds
(organic
compounds that
contain
the carbon–fluorine
bond)

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 Perfluoro- It is a group of It is used as solvents It is a powerful greenhouse gases as alternatives
carbons manmade in the electronics to ozone depleting substances
(PFCs) chemicals industry and as
composed of refrigerants.
carbon and PFC replaces
fluorine only chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs) in
manufacturing
semiconductors. It is
emitted as a by-
product during
aluminum
production.
*

source: Kyoto Protocol (Appendix ____)

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 Sea-salt spray. Also called sea salt aerosol, contributes
significantly to the global gas emission. It is thought to be the
dominant contributor to direct scattering of solar radiation and is
believed to be an important source of cloud droplets in the remote
marine environment.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These are chemical

substances produced and emitted by plants and other organisms in
gaseous form, specifically composed of carbon.

9.5 Changing the Global Climate

When carbon is stored in different natural reservoirs other than the
ocean, land, or the air particles it tends to be released into the
atmosphere having an impact on climate change such as:
Influential greenhouse gases in the form of air pollutants can cause
depletion of ozone layer in the atmosphere. Such depletion results
to the breaking down of the earth's ozone layer. This layer covers
the entire planet and protects life on earth by absorbing harmful
ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation from the sun.
Ozone depleting substances (Table ____) damage the ozone layer,
allowing the UV radiation to pass through which causes many
problems from skin cancer and cataracts in people to damaged farm
crops.

Table ____. Ozone depleting substances*

Substance Uses
chlorofluorocarbons Use in refrigerators, air
(CFCs) conditioners, and foams; as aerosol
propellants
Halon Present in fire extinguishers
Carbon tetrachloride As dry cleaning solvent and a
(CCl4) refrigerant; also in fire extinguishers
Methyl chloroform As a solvent; present in many
(CH3CCl3) consumer products

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 Table ____. Ozone depleting substances*

Substance Uses
Hydrobromofluorocarbons In fire suppression systems
(HBFCs)
Methyl bromide (CH3Br) For fumigation of soil, structures
and goods to be imported or
exported

Bromochloromethane As a fire extinguishing agent

(CH2BrCl)
Hydrochlorofluorocarbons In refrigerators, air conditioners, fire
(HCFCs) extinguishers and foams; as
aerosol propellants
*Source: Montreal Protocol
On average, Earth will become warmer. Some regions may
welcome warmer temperatures, but others may not. Hence, warmer
conditions will probably lead to more evaporation and precipitation
overall, but individual regions will vary, some becoming wetter and
others dryer.

A stronger greenhouse effect will warm the oceans and partially melt
glaciers and other ice, increasing sea level. Ocean water also will
expand if it warms, contributing further to sea level rise.
\

Some crops and other plants may respond favorably to increase

atmospheric CO2, growing more vigorously and using water more
efficiently.

Higher temperatures and shifting climate patterns may change the

areas where crops grow best and affect the makeup of natural plant
communities.

9.6 Regulatory bodies governing Air pollution

The Kyoto Protocol (Appendix ___)
The Kyoto Protocol, also known as the Kyoto Accord, is an
international treaty among industrialized nations that sets
mandatory limits on greenhouse gas emissions.

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The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, on 11 December
1997 and entered into force on 16 February 2005. There are
currently 192 parties (Canada withdrew from the protocol, effective
December 2012)[4] to the Protocol.

The Kyoto Protocol implemented the objective of the UNFCCC to

reduce the onset of global warming by reducing greenhouse
gas concentrations in the atmosphere to "a level that would
prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate
system" (Article 2).

The Montreal Protocol (Appendix ___)

The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty designed to protect
the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous
substances that are responsible for ozone depletion. It was agreed
on 16th September 1987, and entered into force on 1st January
1989.

Montreal Protocol, formally Montreal Protocol on Substances That

Deplete the Ozone Layer, international treaty, adopted
in Montreal on Sept. 16, 1987, that aimed to regulate the
production and use of chemicals that contribute to the
depletion of Earth's ozone layer.

The international treaty called The Montreal Protocol on

Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Montreal Protocol) Exit
is gradually eliminating the production and consumption of ozone
depleting substances to limit their damage to the earth's ozone
layer.

The Clean Air Act RA 8749 (Appendix ____)

Republic Act No. 8749, otherwise known as the Philippine Clean Air
Act, is a comprehensive air quality management policy and program
which aims to achieve and maintain healthy air for all Filipinos.

The Philippines Clean Air Act of 1999 (Republic Act No. 8749)
outlines the government’s measures to reduce air pollution and
incorporate environmental protection into its development plans.

It relies heavily on the polluter pays principle and other market-

based instruments to promote self-regulation among the population.

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It sets emission standards for all motor vehicles and issues pollutant
limitations for industry.

Emission limit values are laid down by The Department of

Environment and Natural Resources, Philippines as ‘Implementing
Rules and Regulations for Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999’. These
rules and regulations shall apply to all industrial emissions and other
establishments which are potential sources of air pollution.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Earth's atmospheric gases scatter blue light more than other

wavelengths, giving Earth
https://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Eartha blue halo when se
en from space.
In addition, its unique colors come from its cover of water (ice,
snow, oceans and clouds. Hence, Earth is known as the blue
marble.

2. A World Health Organization (WHO) study revealed that

people, mostly children from developing countries in Africa,
Latin America and Southeast Asia, die every year from the
effects of global warming such as malaria and malnutrition.

3. A research jointly conducted by reputable universities on the

cleanest countries in the world based on
https://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/SpaceEnvironmental
Performance Index (EPI) 2020 report revealed all top 10 come
from Europe aced by Switzerland while the dirtiest come from
Asia and Africa.

ASSESSMENT

Individual Work
1. How do the following affect the amount of CO 2 in the
atmosphere:

a. Deforestation
b. CO2 absorption in the oceans
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 c. Industrial revolution

2. Identify things that are commonly used in your home which

contain hazardous gases. Answer Table ____.

Items at home Use Hazardous gas

content
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Group Work

1. Form a group of 5 members each. Share your answer in individual

work no. 2. Come up with a new listing of common items shared
by the group and answer Table _____.

Items at Hazardous Effect of the What particular

home gas pollutant to law/regulation
content environment/ is violated
organisms
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

2. Create or come up with a campaign action against the use of the

top 3 pollutants mentioned in no. 1.