AIR POLLUTION -

EFFECTS ON BIOSPHERE
AND METEROLOGY
 AIR POLLUTION
Air pollution is one of the most dangerous forms
of environmental pollution in current times. As a
result of natural and man-made activities, gases
such as CO, SO2, H2S and oxides of nitrogen,
mist particulates

and aerosol are continuously released into the

atmosphere and get dispersed in the air through
air currents. These gases exist upto 2,000 feet
above ground level. This disturbs the dynamic
equilibrium of the atmosphere and causes health
hazards to all organisms.
 Sources of Air Pollution
(i) Population explosion:
The fast growth rate of population
will create several serious problems
in a chain reaction. Increase in
population will create global
warming and the emission of
Greenhouse gases. These in turn
will result in a rise in sea levels.
Population explosion will also
cause an increase in demand for
food followed by the need for more
land for cultivation thus causing
destruction and loss of forest cover
and wildlife.
(ii) Burningoffossilfuelsandfires:

Burningofconventionalfossilfuelssuchascoal,lig
nite,petroleum and natural gas produces
gaseous by-products which are poisonous, these
include CO2, CO, CH4, SO2 and oxides of
nitrogen. These gases pollute the air and make it
unfit for breathing. However the quality and
concentration of these pollutants depends on the
type of fuel used. The smoke from the chimneys
of a factory and the dust from anthropogenic
activities contain a large amount of sulphur and
nitrogen, respectively. Sulphur and nitrogen
burn in the atmosphere to produce their oxides.
They are responsible for the destruction of the
ecosystem and corrosion in factories.
(iii) Vehicular discharges:

In urban areas, about 75 per cent of the air

pollution is caused by automobile emissions.
Automobiles run mainly on petrol or diesel.
They pollute the air not only with exhaust
gases but also with tiny bits of lead from
tetraethyl lead that is contained in gasoline
so as to prevent engine knock. A mixture of
carbon monoxide (about 77 per cent), oxides
of nitrogen (about 8.4 per cent),
hydrocarbons (about 14 per cent) and leaded
gas along with some particulate of lead is
emitted due to incomplete combustion of
hydrocarbons (petrol and diesel) in internal
combustion engines.
(iv) Rapid industrialization:

The advancement in science has led to

the establishment of several industries
such as the chemical industry, paper
and pulp mills, cotton mills,
metallurgical plants smelters,
petroleum refineries, mining, synthetic
rubber industries and tanneries. These
industries are responsible for 20 per
cent of the air pollution as they
discharge pollutants of the gaseous,
liquid and particulate type. The most
common pollutants are CO, CO2, NO,
NO2, SO2 and H2S.
(v) Agricultural activities:

Different types of insecticides,

pesticides and herbicides used in
agriculture pollute the air
through air currents thereby end
up making the air hazardous for
both human and animal health.
 Air Pollution and Biosphere
Biosphere denotes the domain of living organisms and their
interaction with the atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere
collectively known as environment.
Atmospheric pollutants are mainly present to a great extent
in the troposphere and the lower stratosphere. Depending on
the extent of air pollution the atmosphere can be divided into
three layers. The first layer up to 100 m from the ground is
highly polluted in general and in urban and industrial areas
in particular. A part of the pollutants present in this layer is
absorbed by vegetation, water surface and buildings. The
next layer, 100–2,000 m high, contains lesser amounts of
pollutants such as turbulent air currents, drizzle, rain and
fog.
Effect on Biosphere
The secondary
pollutants formed in
the atmosphere by the
reaction of primary
pollutants, water,
oxygen and ultraviolet
rays of the sun
already present in the
atmosphere affect the
soil, vegetation, crops,
animals and human
beings adversely.
 Meteorology and Air Pollution
Meteorology can be defined as the study of
the behaviour of atmospheric variation that
determines the extent of air pollution. When
factors like wind, whose speed and direction
of flow directly determines the extent of
dispersion and dilution of air pollutants are
called primary meteorological factor, while
precipitation, humidity and solar radiation
that control the dispersion of the pollutants
indirectly are called secondary
meteorological parameters.
 GEOGRAPHY

Solar energy is received in larger amounts at the equator than at

the poles due to the shape of the earth and its orientation. On the
other hand the transmitted radiation is uniformly distributed at the
latitudes. As a result the equator becomes warmer than the poles.
As a counter action, heat energy is transferred from the equator to
the poles as wind. Pollutants in the air also move with it and get
diffused and diluted. During the day, land and sea breeze and
mountain valley winds develop due to this very phenomenon.
 CLIMATE

The climate of a region is the average pattern of variation of weather over a

period of time. Hence, the climate of a region depends upon availability and
also evaporation of water mass, reflection of solar radiation, heat storing
capacity, topography and texture of the region.

Due to technological advancement, more air pollutants and heat are

released in urban areas than rural areas. These form a ‘micro climate’ over
the urban areas due to population explosion, excess heat release,
automobile exhaust, industry emissions and concrete jungles. Hence,
human beings exert a great influence on meteorological changes.
 WEATHER
The average condition of temperature, wind, humidity, cloudiness and
precipitation over time periods ranging from a few hours to a few days at a
particular place is known as the weather of that area. So, weather can
change within hours, days or even weeks.

The phenomenon of weather takes place in the lower atmosphere or

troposphere. During the day, earth and the air near it is heated up by the
sun. This warm air, carrying pollutants rises upward and cooler air comes
down resulting in a vertical mixing of the atmosphere. Thus, under normal
conditions the temperature of air near the earth’s surface decreases with the
increase of altitude. After the sun sets, the ground air cools faster than the
air above creating an inversion.
 WIND
Atmospheric motion or wind is the result of difference in temperature
between the equator and the poles. Wind helps greatly in dispersion
and dilution of gases and particulate matter.

Gas and particulate matter are dispersed mainly from point sources
(chimneys). They depend on wind and atmospheric temperature
gradient of the place. The stronger the wind and temperature, the
greater is the dispersion of gases and particulate matter. The
behaviour of a plume of smoke from a chimney changes with the
course of the day and depends upon the degree of clouds present,
humidity and temperature of the area.
 AVNEET KAUR
CSE-1
ROLL NUMBER-13