Air Pollution, Climate

Change, and Ozone

Depletion
The Nature Of the Atmosphere
 The atmosphere is a mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth. It helps make life
possible by providing us with air to breathe, shielding us from harmful ultraviolet
(UV) radiation coming from the Sun, trapping heat to warm the planet, and
preventing extreme temperature differences between day and night.
 Earth’s atmosphere is composed of about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1%
other gases.
 The two innermost layers of the atmosphere are the troposphere, which supports
life, and the stratosphere, which contains the protective ozone layer.
o The troposphere contains the air we breathe and is composed mainly of
nitrogen and oxygen – but also contains greenhouse gasses (H20, CO2,
CH4, N2O)
o The stratosphere is similar in composition to the troposphere, but has
much less water vapor and contains the ozone layer
Major Air Pollution Problems?
 Outdoor pollution includes industrial smog (burning coal), photochemical
smog (industrial emissions and cars), and acid deposition (coal-burning
power/industrial plant and cars)
o Industrial smog: a mix of sulfur dioxide, sulfuric acid, and particulates
o Photochemical smog: a mix of primary/secondary pollutants/chemicals
formed in light activated reactions
 Indoor pollution includes smoke/soot from wood/coal fires, cigarette smoke,
and chemicals in building materials and cleaning products
o How Should We Deal with Air Pollution?
 Enact/regulate/enforce laws/standards
 Authorizing/using emissions trading
 Ban indoor smoking and increase air circulation in commercial
buildings/homes
 Set stricter standards for emissions from products designed/made
for indoor use
 Use naturally based cleaning products
Weather, Climate and Change
 Weather: short-term changes in atmospheric variables over hours or days
 Climate: average weather conditions and patterns over the earth, or a specific
region, for a minimum of three decades
 Climate Change:
 As the earth’s average atmospheric temperature rises, some areas get warmer,
others get cooler
o How do we know it is happening now?
  Earth’s average global surface temperature 1.4 degrees F. than
1906
 Nine of the warmest years since 2000
 Glaciers/summer arctic sea ice are shrinking
 Melting permafrost; rising sea levels
 More atmospheric greenhouse gasses
 Migration of terrestrial/freshwater/marine species towards the poles
o What Are Some Possible Effects of a Warmer Atmosphere?
 The projected increases in atmospheric temperatures can have long-
lasting effects:
 Flooding
 Rising sea levels
 Shifts in the locations of croplands
 Wildlife habitats
 More extreme weather
o What can we do to slow projected climate change?
 To slow the rate of projected climate change, we can increase energy
efficiency, sharply reduce greenhouse gas emissions, rely more on
renewable energy resources, and slow population growth.
How have we depleted ozone in the stratosphere and what can we do about it?
 Widespread use of certain chemicals has reduced ozone levels in the
stratosphere and allowed more harmful ultraviolet radiation to reach the earth’s
surface.
 To reverse ozone depletion, we need to stop producing ozone-depleting
chemicals and adhere to the international treaties that ban such chemicals.