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Effects on the environment
1. Haze
2. Ozone Layer Depletion
3. Acid Rain
4. Global Warming
GLOBAL AIR POLLUTION
PROBLEMS
HAZE
1. HAZE
O + O2 O3
O3 destruction:
O3 + hv (λ<325nm) O2 + O
O + O3 2O2
Notice that O is involved in both the formation and destruction of O3.
Sunlight derives both the formation & destruction of O3. The above
reactions stop at night.
2. Ozone Layer Depletion (Cont’d)
Biological effects
Less efficient filtering of radiation in the range 290 – 330 nm i.e. UV-B. This
high energy radiation will have adverse effects on planktons, plants, animals,
humans (skin cancer; photochemical reaction in DNA).
2. Ozone Layer Depletion (Cont’d)
Nitric oxide
Electric discharge 0.01 ppm
NO
Sulfur dioxide
SO2 Volcanic gases 0-0.01 ppm
Natural Rainwater
Carbon dioxide reacts with water to form carbonic acid (Eqn.1).
Carbonic acid then dissociates to give the hydrogen ion (H+) and the
hydrogen carbonate ion (HCO3-) (Eqn. 2).
The ability of H2CO3 to deliver H+ is what classifies this molecule as an
acid, thus lowering the pH of a solution.
Formation of Acid Rain
Formation of Acid Rain
When water vapor condenses, or as the rain falls, they dissolve in the
water to form H2SO4 and HNO3.
MSN Encarta
Affected Areas
Canada
Acid rain is a problem in Canada
Water and soil systems lack natural alkalinity such as
lime base
Cannot neutralize acid
Canada consists of susceptible hard rock such as
granite
Do not have the capacity to effectively neutralize acid
rain
Affected Areas
Industrial acid rain is a substantial problem in China,
Eastern Europe and Russia and areas down-wind
from them.
Acid rain from power plants in the Midwest United
States has also harmed the forests of upstate New
York and New England.
This shows that the effects of acid rain can spread
over a large area, far from the source of the
pollution
Effects of Acid Rain
Harmful to aquatic life
Increased acidity in water bodies
Stops eggs of certain organisms (e.g. fish) to stop
hatching
Changes population ratios
Affects the ecosystem
Effects of Acid Rain
Harmful to vegetation
Increased acidity in soil
Leeches nutrients from soil, slowing plant growth
Leeches toxins from soil, poisoning plants
Creates brown spots in leaves of trees, impeding
photosynthesis
Allows organisms to infect through broken leaves
Effects of Acid Rain
http://abacus.bates.edu/~ganderso/biology/bio270/clover_leaf_burns
_pH2_30d.gif
MSN Encarta
Effects of Acid Rain
Accelerates weathering in metal
and stone structures
Eg. Parthenon in Athens, Greece; Taj
Mahal in Agra, India
Scrubber at work
MSN Encarta
Preventive Measures
Use other sources of electricity (i.e. nuclear
power, hydro-electricity, wind energy,
geothermal energy, and solar energy)
Issue of cost
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Nuclear_Power_Plant_Cattenom.jpg
Reducing the effects of Acid Rain
Liming
Powdered limestone/limewater added
to water and soil to neutralize acid
Used extensively in Norway and
Sweden
Expensive, short-term remedy
[[ continued: ]]
- + - - + -
Infrared Spectrum of CO2
Infrared Spectrum of Water (H2O) Vapor
Greenhouse Gas Requirements
Component of Natural
Oil wells
Gas
Landfills
Decayed vegetable
Rice paddies
matter in wetlands
Cattle and sheep
Frozen methane
hydrate cages
Methane Absorbs at the Edge of Window
Region of IR Spectrum
Nitrous Oxide, N2O; “Laughing Gas”
CFC’s 25 % 0 3 7
Sea Levels
Forests
Biodiversity
Food Production
Water
Weather
Health
Climate Change and Sea Level
Glacier National Park
All but 37 of 150 glaciers in the park have melted since 1850.
Glacier National Park
1957 1998
Global Climate Change
Melting
permafrost
Coral Bleaching
Possible Consequences of Global Warming
Highly Global Av Surface Warming
Plausible Global Avg. Precipitation Increase
Reduction in Sea Ice
Surface Winter Warming at High Altitudes
Greenhouse gas
emissions are
expected to increase
faster in developing
rather than
developed countries
Global Warming vs. Ozone Depletion