Air Environment

 Air pollution is a type of environmental pollution that affects the air and is usually

caused by smoke or other harmful gases, mainly oxides of carbon, sulphur and
nitrogen. In other words, air pollution is the contamination of air due to the
presence or introduction of a substance which has a poisonous effect.

 What are the main sources of air pollution?

There are four main types of air pollution source
1. mobile sources – such as cars, buses, planes, trucks, and trains
2. stationary sources – such as power plants, oil refineries, industrial facilities, and
factories
3. area sources – such as agricultural areas, cities, and wood burning fireplaces
4. natural sources – such as wind-blown dust, wildfires, and volcanoes
What cause air pollution?
Air pollution is caused by solid and liquid
particles and certain gases that are
suspended in the air. These particles and
gases can come from car and truck exhaust,
factories, dust, pollen, mold spores, volcanoes
and wildfires. The solid and liquid particles
suspended in our air are called aerosols.

Where do aerosols come from?

Any particle that gets picked up into the air or
is formed from chemical reactions in the air
can be an aerosol.
Some of the particles and gases come directly
from these sources, but others form through
chemical reactions in the air.
 What else causes air pollution?

Certain gases in the atmosphere can cause air pollution.

For example, in cities, a gas called ozone is a major cause
of air pollution. Ozone is also a greenhouse gas that can be
both good and bad for our environment. It all depends
where it is in Earth’s atmosphere.

Ozone high up in our atmosphere is a good thing. It helps

block harmful energy from the Sun, called radiation. But,
when ozone is closer to the ground, it can be really bad for
our health. Ground level ozone is created when sunlight
reacts with certain chemicals that come from sources of
burning fossil fuels, such as factories or car exhaust.

When particles in the air combine with ozone, they create

smog. Smog is a type of air pollution that looks like smoky
fog and makes it difficult to see.
Smog - is a type of air pollution in cities that makes it difficult to see outside

Here are images of Beijing on a clear day after a rain (left) and on a smoggy day (right)
 How does air pollution affect Earth’s climate?

 Aerosols can impact how the Sun’s light

hits Earth. For example, some aerosols
reflect sunlight while others absorb
sunlight. It depends on the color of the
particle.
 Dark surfaces—whether it’s a black t-
shirt or a dark particle in the
atmosphere—absorb the Sun's heat.
Lighter-colored surfaces reflect heat
from the Sun.
 A white t-shirt reflects the Sun on a hot
day, making you feel cooler. In the same How does air pollution affect our health?
way, light-colored particles that reflect
the Sun’s light and heat away from Breathing in polluted air can be very bad for our health.
Earth can make the global temperature Long-term exposure to air pollution has been associated
cooler. with diseases of the heart and lungs, cancers and other
 Dark-colored particles that absorb the health problems. That’s why it’s important for us to monitor
Sun’s light can make the global air pollution.
temperature warmer.
 How is NASA monitoring air pollution?

NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration

-  the federal agency that is responsible for aerospace research,
aeronautics, and the civilian space program.
• NASA uses satellites orbiting Earth to keep an eye on air pollution. In
fact, air quality forecasters use information about aerosols from
NASA’s Aqua, Terra and Suomi-NPP satellites.
• NASA also is developing a new instrument called the Multi-Angle
Imager for Aerosols, or MAIA, to fly aboard a future spacecraft
mission. MAIA will help scientists understand the size, makeup and
quantity of aerosols in our air. Eventually, scientists will be able to
compare this information with health records. This can help us better
understand the relationship between aerosol pollution and human
health.
 Quiz: Red for questions and black for the answers
1.What are the usual causes of environmental pollution that affects the air?
2. Draw one source of air pollution of each type.
3.How can you minimize air pollutants?
4.What aerosol products are you using? Are you aware of its impact to the
environment?
5. What is the difference between a good ozone and a bad ozone?
6. If you would buy an umbrella, what color would you choose and why?
7. What can you say about NASA?

Answer honestly. Thank you.