S.3. Geography - How clean is our air.

doc

Structure of the atmosphere:

- 100km — Thermosphere
- 80km — Mesosphere
- 50km — Stratosphere
- Ozone layer
- 15km — Troposphere

Characteristics of Troposphere:
* Nearly all weather phenomena occur here and 95% of the air is found here
The atmosphere supplies oxygen which supports our lives
The atmosphere keeps the earth warm
The atmosphere absorbs much of the harmful ultraviolet radiation from reaching the earth's surface

Air Pollution Index (API) - Environmental Protection Department

General API Roadside API
Central
Mongkok
Causeway Bay

5 types of air pollutants measured by API:

Nitrogen dioxide
Sulphur dioxide
Ozone
Carbon monoxide
Respirable suspended particulates

Effects of air pollution

Smog
Smog is a yellow layer of harmful fog-like fumes
Factories and cars give out a lot of waste gases. Under clam conditions, the waste gases will be
built up in the atmosphere. They will have a chemical reaction with sunlight. Smog is then
formed.

Bad effects of smog:

Health:
 Heart diseases
 Respiratory diseases
 Broncliltis
 Pneumonia
 Asthma

1
 Economic:
 It lowers the visibility and destroys the harbour view
 It badly affects tourism
 Foreign investors may move away because of poor visibility
Transport:
 Low visibility causes sea traffic accidents
World population increases. They need more food so more animals are kept. When more people
and animals breathe, they give out more CO2
There is increasing no. of cars, power stations and factories. They give out more CO2 when
burning fossil fuels
Deforestation causes fewer plants to absorb CO2
There is positive relationship between the amount of CO2 and the global temperature. Higher content of
CO2 means higher global temperature. This leads to global warming.
Greenhouse gases: CFCs, nitrogen oxide (N2O), Methane (CH4), Water vapour

Bad impacts of global warming:

1. If temperature increases, the polar ice melts. Sea level rises. Coastal farmland or cities will be
flooded. Many people will injured or die
2. If affects the world rainfall patterns. Some areas may have drought causing crop failure and fires.
Some areas may have higher rainfall causing flooding. Super storms may occur more frequently
3. Global warming causes spread of diseases like malaria, dengue fever, etc
The ozone layer protects us from ultraviolet radiation (cancer) from the sun
CFCs cause the ozone hole (ozone layer is very thin)
Sources of CFCs: Aerosol sprays, plastic foams, refrigerant, solvent

Acid rain:
Rain that has a pH value below 5.6 is defined as acid rain (pure rain: ph 5.6 - 5.8)
Vehicles, power plants and factories give out a lot of pollutants
such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides
These pollutants mix with moisture in clouds and fall as acid rain, acid snow or hail

Serious affected: eastern part of North America, western part of Europe, southeast China
Highly concentrated in northern part of Europe
Population density is low and industrial area and power plant are less concentrates but air pollution are
caused by the SW wind form western Europe to the northern part of Europe.

Bad effects of air pollution:

Air pollution affects our health e.g. heart diseases and respiratory diseases
Air pollutants lower the visibility and causes traffic accidents
Low visibility destroys the sea view. Tourism is badly affected
The government should spend a large sum of money on curing diseases and improve the pollution
problem
2
 Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide trap the heat and cause the rise in temperature. Global
warming is resulted.
The ozone layer is destroyed by CFCs. Too much ultraviolet radiation can cause cancer.
Smog is formed by chemical reaction with pollutants. It will harm human health and lower the
visibility.
Air pollutants lead to the formation of acid rain, which pollutes the water sources.

Effects of acid rain:

1. Damage the ecological system
Acid rain makes the soil become acidic and poor. Acids cause aluminium and other metals to be
released from the soil. This may rot the plant roots. Fish and water plants in rivers and lakes are
killed. Wildlife also dies because of the loss of habitat and food.
2. Affects farming, fishing and forestry
Fish in rivers are also killed and so the fish yield drops. In addition, acid rain can damage trees and
forests; the production of timber thus is reduced.
3. Threatens human health
Vegetables grown in acidic soil also contain large amounts of heavy metals that are harmful to our
health.
4. Corrodes buildings
Acid rain corrodes buildings and statues. Huge amount of money is needed to clean and repair them.

There are 2 sources of air pollution: natural causes and human activities.
Natural causes of air pollution:
Forest fires
Volcanic eruption

Human activities causing air pollutants:

Transport
Factories
Incinerator
Power plants
Farming

There are 4 place air quality fails to meet the standard set by EPD
1. Mongkok
2. Central
3. Causeway Bay
4. Yuen Long
Yuen Long is an urban area but with dense population, heavy traffic and many tall building. The
prevailing wind in winter brings pollutants, especially these emitted from factories from Shenzhen to
Yuen Long.
The government can:
set up laws to be aware of energy saving

3
 educate the public to be aware of energy saving
promote liquefied petroleum gas and electric powered vehicles
Carry out better urban planning e.g. Industrial areas are located far away from residential area
Develop renewable e.g. solar energy Reduce the use of coal and oil
Carry out research to develop energy saving machines or appliances
Encourage the use of pollution-free modes of transport e.g. MTR
Control the number of vehicles by imposing higher tax on petrol and imported motor vehicles
Stop producing products with CFCs
Move factories releasing air pollutants away from densely populated areas
Use of energy efficient labels on electrical appliances
International cooperation
e.g. cooperate with the government in South China to control regional pollution

An individual can:
Use public transport
Turn off the engine while waiting
Use home appliances with energy efficient labels
Turn off unnecessary lighting, air conditioning
Do not use aerosol products that contain CFCs
Have regular maintenance of car
Use unleaded petrol or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)
Lead a greener life e.g. reduce, reuse, recycle