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Air Pollution
• Definitions
• History - Patterns & Principles
• Examples: SO2, Acid Rain, Ozone, Particulates (Aerosols and soot)
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
New standard = 75 ppb
Definitions• Air pollution
• Standards
• Acute versus chronic
• Point versus non-point sources• Asbestos, Pb, O3, Hg, Particulates, SO2,
NOx, CO, 188 toxins
• Global: Acid rain, climate change, O3 (stratospheric)
• Health and Ecosystem Protection: acid rain, UV, Visibility
• Indoor air: asthma, CO, mold, radon, smoke
• Primary: Human Health
• Secondary: Services and Facilities
• Visibility
• Acute: High concentrations, short- or long-term, immediate health effects or visible damage
• Chronic: Low concentrations, long-term, produces weakened organisms
Crude Examination of History
-3300 BC-5300 YBP
Ötzi - man
2008‘Present’
Long-distanceTransportOzoneOzone-CO2 interactionsParticulates(aerosols & soot)Heavy metals
Climate Change
Takehome lessons:1. Presence since fire (or longer)2. Natural ---- Anthropogenic3. In your face, simple, acute4. Everywhere, pervasive, chronic,
complex5. Role of development, technology
Crude Examination of History
-3300 BC-5300 YBP
Ötzi - man
Impacts: Individual, human health Visible damage black smoke
Industrial Revolution
AcuteLocalPointSO2
Today
North America’s Largest Sources of SO2
• Sudbury, Ontario, Canada (1883 to present)
• Copper Hill/Duck Town, Tennesse (Pre-European to 1983)
• ASARCO Smelter - Tacoma (1890 - 1985)
• Anaconda Smelter - MT (1884 - 1980)• Smelterville/Kellogg, Idaho (1888 - 1981)• Trail BC
History Continued - SudburySmelting of Nickel & CopperPoint Source
1890Ground Level RoastingBeds
1928RoastingBeds - goneTall stacks
1972SuperStack1250’
Acute to ChronicLocal to DistantSimple to Complex
1883First Mine
http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/envision/sudbury/air_quality/index.htm
1990’sFurtherReductions
Sudbury - Ecological EffectsAcute, Point-Source Air Pollution: Principle
90 miles7000 LakesWaste Land
I I - Visible Damage on sensitive species
II
II - Sensitive tree species dies, other trees show deformed crowns
Stages of Acute Air Pollution Damage
III
III - Shrubs and herbaceous plants die
IV
IV - Only most tolerant plants alive
+
Crude Examination of History
-3300 BC-5300 YBP
Ötzi - man
Age of the AutomobileBeginning ofsignificant regulations
ChronicDispersedNon-pointComplexSmogAcid Precipitation
2008‘Present’
Long-distanceTransportOzoneOzone-CO2 interactionsParticulates(aerosols & soot)Heavy metals
Climate Change
Regulations/Laws
Transition from Acute, Point Source, Local to Chronic, Non-point
source (or multiple), Distant• Acid Precipitation
• Result of transferring problem from local to distant
• Application of technologies to reduce smoke and soot
• Takes incredible detective work, especially with terrestrial vs. aquatic systems
• Greatest financial impact is on structures
General Principle
• Chronic levels of a pollutant do not kill humans, or plants outright; weaken.
• A weakened person or plant -- Plant: its productivity or ability to make
biomass decreases. How might this affect a trophic pyramid or prices of food?
Human: Immune system compromised• Other stressors• THEN some other factor usually kills the
human or plant.
Today
• Laws and Regulations: Clean Air Act of 1970 and most recent modifications
• Combinations of ozone and elevated carbon dioxide.
• Long-distance transport• Soot and aerosols• Yoram’s lecture: Cap and trade model for
controlling SO2
Crude Examination of History
-3300 BC-5300 YBP
Ötzi - man
2008‘Present’
OzoneOzone-CO2 interactionsParticulates(aerosols & soot)Heavy metals
Climate Change
Long-distanceTransport
Climate Problems/Global Change/Air Pollution 21st Century
• Greenhouse gases: global warming (CO2, CFCs, NOx, CH4, H20)
• Air pollution: NOx, SO2, haze, aerosols, O3, heavy metals (Hg, Pb, Cd), organic compounds
• Ozone depletion: O3
In the article by Travis and Carleton (2002), they used the abbreviation
DTR. DTR = ?
1. Diffuse transmitted radiation
2. Diurnal temperature range
3. Delta transfer
4. Delayed transmission
Results
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are needed to see this picture.
DTR = Daily temperature range
1971 - 2000
Tmax - Tmin = DTR; set to zero for 1971 - 2000. Above the line, greater, below the line smaller.
Mechanism
Day Day Night Night
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are needed to see this picture.
Contrails No ContrailsNo Contrails
Warmer
Colder
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are needed to see this picture.
Contrails
V. Ramanathan in his testimony before Congress maintains that BC has the
following characteristics: (select the false statement; three statements are true)
1. Is spread rapidly
2. Has major health impacts
3. Has a major impact on global warming
4. Has a relatively long atmospheric life-time
Synthesis
Carbon Cycle Nitrogen Cycle Sulfur Cycle
Photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition/fire fossil fuels/biofuels
CO2 N2OCH4
SO2
CombustionN - cycle processes
Biotic production of reduced sulfur gases by bacteriaVolcanoesCombustion
NO2
Greenhouse gases
SO4=
NO3-
Acid precipitation
SO4=
Aerosols
Summary
• Definitions
• Principles
• History
• Dan Jaffe’s Lecture on Wednesday– Long-distance transport– Tighter regulations/standards
• Yoram’s lecture on Friday– Cap and trade– Taxes
Orphaned Slides from previous Lectures
• Emphasis on Acid Precipitation
• What it is
• How it impacts ecosystems
Crude Examination of History
-3300 BC-5300 YBP
Ötzi - man
Age of the Automobile
ChronicDispersedNon-pointComplexSmogAcid Precipitation
2008‘Present’
Long-distanceTransportOzoneOzone-CO2 interactionsParticulates(aerosols & soot)Heavy metals
Climate Change
Impacts: Individual, human health Non-human impacts Visibility
Regulations/LawsIssues of Social Justice
Industrial Revolution
AcuteLocalPointSO2
Acid Rain - Effects on Forest & Aquatic Ecosystems: Major
Detective’s job• Shallow rooted trees and plants
Where do plants get theirrequired water and nutrients?CO2 - airN - soil & decomposition & input of NO3
Other minerals (Ca, Mg, K) - decomposition & weathering
Continued
ParentMaterial
• Geology of parent material• Certain soils are more susceptible to acid rain• Low soil carbon - poor acid buffering capacity
Rocks (minerals)
Secondary minerals (clays)
Weathering1. Parent material2. Climate3. Topography4. Vegetation5. Time
Chemical &Physical