Republic of the Philippines

SULTAN KUDARAT STATE UNIVERSITY

ACCESS, EJC Montilla, 9800 City of Tacurong

Province of Sultan Kudarat

COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION

METEOROLOGY

WRITTEN REPORT

LESSON 19:

AIR POLLUTION

REPORTERS

HAMSA, REHANA S.

KAMAYUNGAN, NORJANA U.
I. PRE-DISCUSSION

Inhaling deeply fills our lungs with mostly nitrogen and oxygen gases, but we also breathe in
small amounts of other substances, some of which are pollutants. These pollutants come from
various human activities like car exhaust, factory emissions, and power plants, contributing to
air pollution in cities. This pollution can harm plants, damage property, and even pose serious
health risks. According to the World Health Organization, outdoor air pollution caused around
3.7 million deaths globally in 2012, while indoor air pollution, mainly from cookstoves in
developing countries, led to about 4.3 million deaths in 2010. This chapter addresses these
concerning issues by discussing the history, types, and sources of air pollution, as well as the
role of weather in exacerbating pollution levels. Additionally, we explore the impacts of air
pollution on urban environment and its contribution to acid precipitation.

II. LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of the lesson, the students can:

a. Determine the historical context and evolution of air pollution,

b. Identify the different types and sources of air pollutants,

c. Explore the factors that influence air pollution distribution, including wind patterns,
atmospheric stability, and topography,

d. Recognize the severe air pollution potential associated with certain environmental
conditions,

e. Evaluate the impacts of air pollution on urban environments and ecosystems, and

f. Examine the concept of acid deposition and its effects on environmental health.

III. LESSON OUTLINE

MOTIVATIONAL ACTIVITY

Instruction: The Class will be divided into 3 groups. Each group will analyze the relationship of
the pictures shown to create a word that identify the concept it tells. Write the answer in your
illustration boards.
_ _ _ L _ T_ _ _ _ O_ _

Ans: POLLUTION Ans: SMOKE

____

Ans: WIND
LESSON PROPER

Brief History of Air Pollution

Air pollution is not a new problem. More than likely, it began when humans invented fire whose
smoke choked the inhabitants of poorly ventilated caves. In fact, very early accounts of air
pollution characterized the phenomenon as “smoke problems,” the major cause being people
burning wood and coal to keep warm.

• Proclamation in 1273 - forbidding the use of sea coal, an impure form of coal that produced a
great deal of soot and sulfur dioxide when burned.

•In 1661, the prominent scientist John Evelyn wrote an essay deploring London’s filthy air.

•1850s, London had become notorious for its “pea soup” fog, a thick mixture of smoke and fog
that hung over the city.

• first week of December 1952, a major disaster struck. The winds died down over London and
the fog and smoke became so thick that people walking along the street literally could not see
where they were going.

• This particularly disastrous smog lasted 5 days and took at least 4000 lives, prompting
Parliament to pass a Clean Air Act in 1956. Additional air pollution incidents occurred in
England during 1956, 1957, and 1962, but due to the strong legislative measures taken against
air pollution, London’s air today is much cleaner, and “pea soup” fogs are a thing of the past.

● FIGURE 19.1 The fog and smoke were so dense in London during December 1952 that visibilities were often
restricted to less than 100 feet and streetlights had to be turned on during the middle of the day .

• During the winter of 1930, for instance, Belgium’s highly industrialized Meuse Valley
experienced an air pollution tragedy when smoke and other contaminants accumulated in a
narrow steep-sided valley.
• The industrial revolution brought air pollution to the United States, as homes and coal-
burning industries belched smoke, soot, and other undesirable emissions into the air.

• As early as 1911, studies documented the irritating effect of smoke particles on the human
respiratory system and the “depressing and devitalizing” effects of the constant darkness
brought on by giant, black clouds of smoke.

• By 1940, the air over some cities had become so polluted that automobile headlights had to be
turned on during the day.

• Photochemical smog - the type that forms in sunny weather and irritates the eyes.

• The Clean Air Act was revised in 1977 and updated by Congress in 1990 to include even
stricter emission requirements for autos and industry. The new version of the Act also includes
incentives to encourage companies to lower emissions of those pollutants contributing to the
current problem of acid rain.

FIGURE 19.2 Pupils cover their noses after school in heavy smog on December 23, 2015, in Binzhou, China.

Meanwhile, some of the most urgent air pollution problems on Earth are now found in
developing countries such as China and India, where rapidly growing populations can be
subject to massive levels of emissions from coal plants, vehicles, and other sources (see ● Fig.
19.2).

Types and Sources of Air Pollutants

Air pollutants are airborne substances (either solids, liquids, or gases) that occur in
concentrations high enough to threaten the health of people and animals, to harm vegetation
and structures, or to toxify a given environment.

• Air pollutants come from both natural sources and human activities.
• Fixed sources encompass industrial complexes, power plants, homes, office buildings, and
so forth. Mobile sources include motor vehicles, ships, and jet aircraft.

Certain pollutants are called primary air pollutants because they enter the atmosphere directly
from smokestacks and tailpipes, for example. Other pollutants, known as secondary air
pollutants, form only when a chemical reaction occurs between a primary pollutant and some
other component of air, such as water vapor or another pollutant.

TABLE 19.1 Some of the Sources of Primary Air Pollutants

● FIGURE 19.4 Estimates of emissions of the primary air pollutants in the United States on a per-weight basis as of
2013. (Data courtesy of United States Environmental Protection Agency.)
1. PRINCIPAL AIR POLLUTANTS

The term particulate matter represents a group of solid particles and liquid droplets that are
small enough to remain suspended in the air. Collectively known as aerosols, this grouping
includes solid particles that may irritate people but are usually not poisonous, such as soot (tiny
solid carbon particles), dust, smoke, and pollen. Some of the more dangerous substances
include asbestos fibers and arsenic. Tiny liquid droplets of sulfuric acid, polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs), oil, and various pesticides are also placed into this category.

● FIGURE 19.5 A thick layer of particulate matter (mostly smoke) and haze covers Santiago, Chile.

• Carbon monoxide (CO), a major pollutant of city air, is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas
that forms during the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels. As we saw earlier,
carbon monoxide is the most plentiful of the primary pollutants (see Fig. 19.4).

• Sulfur dioxide (SO )2 is a colorless gas that comes primarily from the burning of sulfur-
containing fossil fuels (such as coal and oil). Its primary sources include power plants, heating
devices, smelters, petroleum refineries, and paper mills.

• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) represent a class of organic compounds that are mainly
hydrocarbons—individual organic compounds composed of hydrogen and carbon.

• Nitrogen oxides are gases that form when some of the nitrogen in the air reacts with oxygen
during the high-temperature combustion of fuel. The two primary nitrogen pollutants are
nitrogen dioxide (NO)2 and nitric oxide (NO), which, together, are commonly referred to as
NOx—or simply, oxides of nitrogen.

2. OZONE IN THE TROPOSPHERE

Photochemical smog - When the smog is composed of sulfurous smoke and foggy air, it is
sometimes called London types. The main component of photochemical smog is the gas ozone
(O3). Ozone is an invisible but noxious substance with an unpleasant odor that irritates eyes
and the mucous membranes of the respiratory system, aggravating chronic diseases, such as
asthma and bronchitis.

FIGURE 19.8 Average hourly concentrations of ozone measured at six major cities over a two-year period.

3. OZONE IN THE STRATOSPHERE

In the stratosphere, above middle latitudes, notice in that ozone as a fraction of the entire
atmosphere is most dense at an altitude near 25 km. Even at this altitude, its concentration is
quite small, as there are only about 12 ozone molecules for every million air molecules (12
ppm). * Although thin, this layer of ozone is significant, for it shields Earth’s inhabit-ants from
harmful amounts of ultraviolet solar radiation, which at wavelengths below 0.3 µm has enough
energy to cause skin cancer in humans. Also, UV radiation at 0.26 µm can destroy acids in DNA
(deoxyribonucleic acid), the substance that transmits the hereditary blueprint from one
generation to the next.

● FIGURE 19.9 The average distribution of ozone above Earth’s surface in the middle latitudes.

● FIGURE 19.11 The Ozone Depleting Gas Index in the

stratosphere for the Antarctic (green) and mid-latitudes
 (blue). The index was created to show how the
concentrations of ozone-depleting gases (such as CFCs)
have changed in the stratosphere since the early 1990s. A
value of 100 represents the highest concentration of
ozone-depleting gases, whereas a value of zero represents
the point at which ozone-depleting gases will have returned
to 1980 levels, and the concentration of ozone will have
returned to near normal levels. (Data from NOAA).

▼ TABLE 19.3 The Air Quality Index

Factors That Affect Air Pollution

1. THE ROLE OF THE WIND

Wind speed plays a role in diluting pollution. When vast quantities of pollutants are spewed into
the air, the wind speed determines how quickly the pollutants mix with the surrounding air and,
of course, how fast they move away from their source. Strong winds tend to lower the
concentration of pollutants by spreading them apart as they move down-stream. This process of
spreading is called dispersion. Moreover, the stronger the wind, the more turbulent the air.
● FIGURE 19.16 If each chimney emits a puff of smoke every second, then where the wind speed is low (a), the
smoke puffs are closer together and more concentrated. Where the wind speed is greater (b), the smoke puffs are
farther apart, and more diluted as turbulent eddies mix the smoke with the surrounding air.

2. THE ROLE OF STABILITY AND INVERSIONS

The stability of the atmosphere is determined by the way the air temperature changes with
height (the lapse rate). The inversion depicted in Fig. 19.17b is called a radiation (or surface)
inversion. This type of inversion typically forms during the night and early morning hours when
the sky is clear, and the winds are light.

● FIGURE 19.17 (a) During the afternoon, when the

atmosphere is most unstable, pollutants rise, mix, and
disperse downwind. (b) At night when a radiation
inversion exists, pollutants from the shorter stacks are
trapped within the inversion, while pollutants from the
taller stack, above the inversion, can rise and disperse
downwind.

• Mixing layer - is air that extends from the surface to the base of the inversion.

• Mixing depth - The vertical extent of the mixing layer.

● FIGURE 19.18 The inversion layer acts as a lid on the pollutants below. If the inversion lowers, the mixing depth
decreases, and the pollutants are concentrated within a smaller volume.

3. THE ROLE OF TOPOGRAPHY

The shape of the landscape (topography) plays an important part in trapping pollutants. The
cold air can have several effects: It can strengthen a pre-existing surface inversion, and it can
carry pollutants downhill from the surrounding hillsides (see Fig. 19.21).

FIGURE 19.21 At night, cold air and pollutants drain downhill and settle in low lying valleys.

Valleys susceptible to stagnant air exist in just about all mountainous regions. Air pollution
concentrations in these valleys tend to be greatest during the colder months. During the warmer
months, daytime heating can warm the sides of the valley to the point that upslope valley winds
vent the pollutants upward, as if in a chimney. The pollution problem in several large cities is, at
least, partly due to topography.

4. SEVERE AIR POLLUTION POTENTIAL

The greatest potential for an episode of severe air pollution occurs when all the factors
mentioned in the previous sections come together simultaneously. Ingredients for a major
buildup of atmospheric pollution are:

• many sources of air pollution (preferably clustered close together),

• a deep high-pressure area that becomes stationary over a region

• light surface winds that are unable to disperse the pollutants,

• a strong subsidence inversion produced by the sinking of air aloft,

• a shallow mixing layer with poor ventilation,

• a valley where the pollutants can accumulate,

• clear skies so that radiational cooling at night will produce a surface inversion, which can
cause an even greater buildup of pollutants near the ground,

• and, for photochemical smog, adequate sunlight to produce secondary pollutants, such as
ozone.

Light winds and poor vertical mixing can produce a condition known as atmospheric stagnation.
The atmospheric conditions resulting in air stagnation usually occur during weather patterns.
For example, a region under the domination of a surface high-pressure area or ridge often
experiences clear skies, light winds, and a subsidence inversion. Moreover, where warm air
rides up over cold surface air, such as ahead of an advancing warm front, stable atmospheric
conditions promote the trapping of pollutants near the surface. On the other hand, the strong
and gusty winds and generally less-stable air behind a cold front usually results in good
dispersion (see Fig. 19.23)

• FIGURE 19.23 Weather patterns associated with poor, fair, and good air pollution dispersion.

Air Pollution and the Urban Environment

The region of city warmth, known as the urban heat island, can influence the concentration of
air pollution. The urban heat island is formed by industrial and urban development. In rural
areas, a large part of the incoming solar energy evaporates water from vegetation and soil. In
cities, where less vegetation and exposed soil exists, most of the sun’s energy is absorbed by
urban structures and asphalt. Hence, during warm daylight hours, less evaporative cooling in
cities allows surface temperatures to rise higher than in rural areas. *

1. at night, when compensating sunlight is absent.

2. during the winter, when nights are longer and there is more heat generated in the city; and

3. when the region is dominated by a high-pressure area with light winds, clear skies, and less
humid air

• FIGURE 19.24 On a clear, relatively calm night, a weak country breeze carries pollutants from the outskirts into the
city, where they concentrate and rise due to the warmth of the city’s urban heat island. This effect may produce a
pollution (or dust) dome from the suburbs to the center of town.

On clear, still nights when the heat island is pronounced, a small thermal low-pressure area may
form over urban areas. Sometimes a light breeze—which may be called a country breeze—
blows from the countryside into the city. If there are major industrial areas along the city’s
outskirts, pollutants are carried into the heart of town, where they become even more
concentrated. Such an event is especially likely if an inversion inhibits vertical mixing and
dispersion.

▼ Table 19.4 summarizes the environmental influence of cities by contrasting the urban
environment with the rural.
ACID DESPOSITION

Acid rain and acid precipitation are common terms used to describe wet deposition, while
acid deposition encompasses both dry and wet acidic substances.

Precipitation is naturally somewhat acidic. The carbon dioxide occurring naturally in the air
dissolves in precipitation, making it slightly acidic with a pH between 5.0 and 5.6. Consequently,
precipitation is considered acidic when its pH is below about 5.0 (see Fig. 19.25)

FIGURE 19.25 The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with a value of 7 considered neutral. Values greater than 7 are
alkaline and below 7 are acidic. The scale is logarithmic, which means that rain with pH 3 is 10 times more acidic
than rain with pH 4 and 100 times more acidic than rain with pH.
• High concentrations of acid deposition can damage plants and water resources. Freshwater
ecosystems seem to be particularly sensitive to changes in acidity. Concern has centered
mainly on areas where interactions with alkaline soil are unable to neutralize the acidic inputs.

• Acid rain may work with other factors, such as natural pathogens, to attack forests across vast
areas.

• Acidic particles raining down on the forest floor for decades caused a chemical imbalance in
the soil that, in turn, causes serious deficiencies in certain elements necessary for the trees’
growth. The trees were thus weakened and become susceptible to insects and drought. The
impact on large forests was called “Waldsterben,” or forest death.

FIGURE 19.27 Smoke from chimneys in Christchurch, New Zealand, lingers close to the ground on a cold winter
morning.

• Acid deposition has eroded the foundations of structures in many cities throughout the world,
as well as damaging priceless outdoor fountain sculptures and statues. The cost of this damage
to building surfaces, monuments, and other structures has been estimated to run into the
billions of dollars each year.
LESSON ACTIVITY

Activity 1

Instruction: The teacher will ask the students to bring out one whole sheet of yellow paper and
tasks them to write down what they have learned from the lesson on air pollution.

Rubrics

Grammar- 20%

Creativity and content- 40%

Use of Features- 40%

Total: 100%

IV. ASSESSMENT

Test I

Instruction: Encircle the correct answer from the given choices.

1. What was the primary fuel during the industrial revolution?

A) Natural gas

B) Wood

C) Coal

D) Oil

2.Which pollutants enter the atmosphere directly?

A) Primary pollutants

B) Secondary pollutants

C) Tertiary pollutants

D) Quaternary pollutants

3. What is the main ingredient of photochemical smog?

A) Carbon monoxide

B) Nitrogen dioxide

C) Ozone
D) Sulfur dioxide

4. Which human-induced gases contribute to ozone destruction in the stratosphere?

A) Nitrous oxide

B) Carbon dioxide

C) Chlorofluorocarbons

D) Methane

5. What conditions usually prevail during most air pollution episodes?

A) Strong winds and cloudy skies

B) Light winds and clear skies

C) Heavy rain and high humidity

D) Thick fog and low temperatures

Test II

Instruction: Write Yes if the statement is true and write No if the statement is false after the
statement.

_________1. Did air pollution problems begin when people started burning wood and coal?

_________2. Has the air quality in large cities improved compared to years ago due to stricter
emission standards and cleaner fuels?

_________3. Do primary air pollutants enter the atmosphere directly?

_________4. Do human-induced gases like chlorofluorocarbons contribute to ozone depletion in

the stratosphere?

_________5. Are urban environments generally warmer and more polluted than rural areas?

Test II

Instruction: Supply the correct terms that corresponds to the following statements.

1. Air pollution problems began when people tried to keep warm by burning __________ and
__________.

2. The main ingredient of photochemical smog is __________.

3. The air quality index indicates the level of __________ in the air.
4. Ozone forms during a series of chemical reactions involving __________ and __________.

5. Human-induced gases, such as chlorofluorocarbons, release __________ that rapidly

destroys ozone, especially in polar regions.

6. Most air pollution episodes occur when the winds are __________, skies are __________,
and a strong inversion exists.

7. In the stratosphere, ozone is a naturally occurring gas that protects us from the sun’s harmful
__________ rays.

V. SUMMARY

• Air pollution has been a long-standing issue since people began burning wood and coal for
warmth.

•The industrial revolution exacerbated air pollution problems, with coal becoming the primary
fuel for homes and industries.

• Despite the Clean Air Act of 1990, many American cities still struggle to meet air quality
standards.

• Cleaner fuels and stricter emission standards have led to improved air quality in large cities.

• Primary pollutants enter the atmosphere directly, while secondary pollutants form through
chemical reactions.

• Ozone, a secondary pollutant, is a key component of photochemical smog.

• Ozone forms through reactions involving nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons, both near the
surface and in the stratosphere.

• Human-induced gases like chlorofluorocarbons contribute to ozone depletion, especially in

polar regions.

• The air quality index highlights areas with unhealthy air, often influenced by factors like light
winds and clear skies.

• Urban environments tend to be warmer and more polluted than rural areas, with industrial
pollution impacting downwind regions.

• Reduction of pollutants has led to improvements in acid deposition, mitigating acid

precipitation in many areas.
VI. REFERENCES

Download Meteorology Today: An Introduction to Weather, Climate, and the Environment by C.

Donald Ahrens, Robert Henson. (n.d.). Retrieved from

HTTPS://ZLIB.PUB/BOOK/METEOROLOGY-TODAY-AN-INTRODUCTION-TO-WEATHER-CLIMATE-AND-THE
ENVIRONMENT ONMM6JMEMTO0?FBCLID=IWAR2EVK2XSKGVL5S8CRBBGCERLBW
3YNQDBP9Y8RKTAXK6VJHJONXV6HHVDI

Key Answers

Test I

1. C) Coal

2. A) Primary pollutants

3. C) Ozone

4. C) Chlorofluorocarbons

5. B) Light winds and clear skies

Test II

1. Yes

2. Yes

3. Yes

4. Yes

5. Yes

Test III

1. wood; coal

2. ozone

3. pollution

4. nitrogen oxides; hydrocarbons (VOCs)

5. atomic chlorine

6. light; clear

7. ultraviolet