Air: Climate and Pollution Chapter 9 1 Outline: Atmosphere and Climate Climate Change El Nino Human Causes Climate and Pollution Kinds of Pollution Sources Transport Effects of Air Pollution <a href="/keyword/air-pollution-control/" >air pollution control</a> 2 Climate and Air Pollution Over the past 20 years, developed countries have made progress in improving air quality. Unfortunately, air quality in the developing world has been getting worse. 3 Major Air Pollutants: Problems Sulfur dioxide - acid rain, health damage, visibility reduction Nitrogen oxides - acid rain, eutrophication, growth of weedy species Carbon monoxide - inhibited respiration Lead and mercury - neurological damage Chlorofluorocarbons - ozone depletion Particulate matter - lung damage, cancer Volatile organic compounds isoprenes, terpenes, methane, &amp; benzene, chloroform, etc oxidized to CO, CO in the atmosphere; carcinogens? 2 4 5 Los Angeles 6 The International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) is a research program that 7 studies the phenomenon of Global Change 8 Indoor Air Pollution Smoking - diseases related to smoking responsible for 20% of deaths in the U.S. In less-developed countries, poorly ventilated heating and cooking fires represent the greatest source of indoor air pollution. 9 Indoor Pollutant Sources Indoor air pollutants come from: underground diffusion, combustion, and chemical emissions. Most indoor air pollution can be reduced by increasing building ventilations. Radon gas (a radioactive decay product of uranium) is the most harmful indoor pollutant when found in high concentrations. 10 Interactions Between Climate Processes and Air Pollution Long range transport Stratospheric ozone depletion Montreal Protocol - 1987 11 Jet Streams &amp; Jet Streaks http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/ (Gh)/guides/mtr/cyc/upa/jet.rxml http://sd.znet.com/~aringler/jet.htm 12 Long range transport of pollutants 13 Circumpolar winds transport air pollution from heavily industrialized regions to the Arctic, where high levels of smog accumulate. 14 Ozone Depletion Stratospheric Ozone Destruction by Chlorine Atoms and UV Radiation 15 Production of chloroflurocarbons (CFCs) Montreal Protocol passed in 1987 16 17 Effects of Air Pollution Human health Plant pathology Visibility reduction Acid deposition 18 Ecosystem damage caused by sulfur dioxide emissions and acid rain. (near Sudbury Ontario) 19 Acid Precipitation, 2000 20 Frazier fir stand on Mount Mitchell in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina Acid Rainfall affects: Plants - directly (weakens or kills plants) Plants - indirectly (lower soil nutrients, insects attack weak trees) Soils - directly (leaching of base cations eg, Ca &amp; Mg) 21 22 <a href="/keyword/air-pollution-control/" >air pollution control</a> Early approach: &quot;Dilution is the solution to pollution&quot; Particulate removal - air filters Sulfur removal - scrubbers Nitrogen oxide reduction - catalytic converters Hydrocarbon controls - afterburners 23 Automobile Emission Control System 24 CLEAN AIR LEGISLATION Clean Air Act (1963) - First national <a href="/keyword/air-pollution-control/" >air pollution control</a> . (using incentives, eg federal grants to states) Clean Air Act (1970) rewrote original Act. Identified critical pollutants Established ambient air quality standards. Primary Standards - Human health Secondary Standards - Materials, environment, aesthetic and comfort. 25 Conventional Pollutants US Clean Air Act designated seven major (conventional or criteria) pollutants for which maximum ambient air levels are mandated. Sulfur Dioxide Carbon Monoxide Particulates Hydrocarbons Nitrogen Oxides Photochemical Oxidants Lead 26 Clean Air Act Revision (1990) - Included provision for: Acid Rain Urban Smog Toxic Air Pollutants Ozone Protection Marketing Pollution Rights Fugitive emissions of volatile organics Ambient ozone, soot, and dust. NOx emissions 27 Clean Air Act Clear Skies ( 2002) didn't pass market-based approach, tried to eliminate `new source review of 1977' which was pollution controls on old equip as well as new equip Clean Air Interstate...