1 Essential Question: How are we changing our atmosphere?Day 1

2 Describe what molecules make up the atmosphere.Learning Goals: Be able to identify the layers of the atmosphere. Describe what molecules make up the atmosphere.

3 Atmosphere Atmosphere: thin layer of gases surrounding earthTroposphere: layer of atmosphere closest to earth (what we breath!) Is 78% nitrogen (N2), 21% oxygen (O2) 1%: H2O vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), & argon

4

5 Create a Pie Chart and Describe Each ItemA. Nitrogen - 78% - Dilutes oxygen and prevents rapid burning at the earth's surface. Living things need it to make proteins. B. Oxygen - 21% - Used by all living things. Essential for respiration. It is necessary for combustion or burning. C. Argon - 0.9% - Used in light bulbs. D. Carbon Dioxide % - Plants use it to make oxygen. Acts as a blanket and prevents the escape of heat into outer space. E. Water Vapor to 4.0% - Essential for life processes. Also prevents heat loss from the earth. F. Trace gases - gases found only in very small amounts. They include neon, helium, krypton, and xenon

6 Bill Nye: Atmosphere https://www.schooltube.com/video/d4985ed543054d03b968/Bill%20Nye%20Atmosphere

7 Air pollution: build up of harmful substances in the air; 2 types:Atmosphere Air pollution: build up of harmful substances in the air; 2 types: Primary Pollutants - pollutants put directly into air, already in harmful form Secondary Pollutants - form when primary pollutants react with each other or other substances Ozone = car emissions + UV light + oxygen gas Smog = ozone + NO2 + other stuff Day 1

8

9 Atmosphere Primary Pollutants :1. Carbon Monoxide (CO) – colorless, odorless gas Sources: burning fossil fuels, vehicles, cigarettes Effects: Interferes with blood’s ability to carry oxygen 2. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) – red/brown, irritating gas Sources: burning fossil fuels in vehicles & factories Effects: lung damage & cancer; acid rain 3. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) – colorless, irritating gas Source: burning coal Effects: acid rain; lung damage Day 1

10 Atmosphere 6. Lead = solid toxic metal Primary Pollutants continued:Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) = chemicals that form toxic fumes Examples: formaldehyde, chloroform, methane Sources: burning of fuels, factories Effects: smog; cancer Particulate matter = particles of liquid or solid in air Ex: dust, ash, smoke, pollen Sources: burning coal, vehicles, construction, agriculture Effects: lung problems, cancer 6. Lead = solid toxic metal Source: leaded gasoline (banned in 1986 in US), paint, batteries Effects: lead poisoning Day 1

11 Use your notes to fill out the chart in your notes.

12 Atmosphere Secondary Pollutants:Photochemical oxidants = products of atmospheric reactions driven by sunlight Important example: Ozone (O3) Effects: harmful to plants & animals, makes smog! Day 1

13 Word Breakdown Photo-: LightChemical: any substance produced by or used in a chemical process

14 Atmosphere Other Forms of Air Pollution 1. Indoor Air Pollution: Mold & bacteria, Cleaning/ building materials, Radon Gas, Asbestos, CO (carbon monoxide), Cigarette smoke Sick building syndrome = headaches, fatigue, nausea, respiratory problems, due to work or home indoor air pollution Day 2

15 Atmosphere Day 2

16 2. Light Pollution: leads to:Atmosphere 2. Light Pollution: leads to: Diminished view of sky Wasted energy Affects animals’ biological cycles & migration Day 2

17 Atmosphere 3. Noise Pollution = unwanted pervasive noiseIntensity of sound is measured in decibels (dB) For each 10-fold increase in dB, the sound intensity is 10X higher (for example: 30 dB has 100x intensity of sound than 10 dB) Hearing Loss has doubled in US in last 30 years ~12% teens have permanent hearing loss 80 year old person in quiet Africa has better hearing than 30 year old American Day 2

18 Note Break Which of these are primary pollutants?Which of the following are considered types of air pollution? VOC Smog Particulates Ozone Carbon Monoxide Indoor air pollution Ocean acidification Eutrophication Sick-building syndrome Noise Pollution

19 Air Pollution Effects: On Human Health:Atmosphere Air Pollution Effects: On Human Health: Heart attack Lung cancer Asthma & Bronchitis Immune problems The World Health Organization estimates that 5-6 million people die prematurely every year from illnesses related to air pollution Day 3

20 On Plants: Atmosphere Air Pollution Effects:Can cause discoloration & death Can reduce crop yields Sensitive crops, such as soybeans, show up to 50% reduction in yield after being exposed to oxidants in the air Damage may cost up to $10 billion per year in US Day 3

21 Atmosphere Air Pollution Effects cont.: Acid Precipitation= rain, snow, etc. with sulfuric (H2SO4) & nitric (HNO3) acids Due to SO2 and NOx (primary pollutants) reacting with H2O in air (Secondary Pollutants) Normal rain is slightly acidic (pH = 5.5) due to CO2 & H2O in air → carbonic acid (H2CO3) Acid rain has pH < 5.0 Day 3 2SO2 + O2 + 2H2O --> H2SO4 2NO2 + H2O → HNO2 + HNO3 pH is a measurement of how acidic or basic a substance is, each whole number represents a tenfold change in acidity. A pH < 7 is acidic, 7 is neutral, > 7 to 14 is basic (alkaline)

22 Atmosphere Effects of Acid RainLowers pH of soil & water → harm or kill plants Changes water’s pH → kills fish & other organisms. Effects worse in spring: acidic snow melts & rushes into lakes → rapid change in pH, called acidic shock Can kill large numbers of fish & affect the reproduction of fish and amphibians videos/acid-rain-invisible-menace/ Day 3

23 Atmosphere Effects of Acid Precipitation cont. Effects on humans:Puts toxic metals into soil → crops, water, & fish Acids dissolve calcium carbonate in building materials → damage to buildings & monuments Concrete, marble, and limestone Day 3 2CH3COOH + CaCO3 = H2CO3 + Ca(CH3COO)2. Acetic acid + calcium carbonate → carbonic acid + calcium acetate H2CO3 = H2O + CO2. Acetic acid has a pH of ~2.5; carbonic acid has a pH of ~5.5.

24 Learning Goals Identify environmental factors that affect pollutionSteps humans have taken to regulate pollution

25 What is the term that describes the following definition: O3; a secondary pollutant of the troposphere? Carbon monoxide b. Sulfur dioxide C. Ozone d. Oxygen 2.What do we call a pollutant put directly into air by human activity, already in harmful form? Primary pollutant b. Secondary pollutant 3. Light pollution can result in which of the following: A. Inefficient energy use b. Disrupting animal migration c. Diminished view of night sky d. All of the above result from light pollution

26 Environmental factors that affect air pollution:Atmosphere Environmental factors that affect air pollution: Topography (mountains, valleys): Shape of the land 2. Climate ( temp. & precipitation) Seattle has great air quality because high rain Day 3

27 What environmental factors affect air pollution?Atmosphere What environmental factors affect air pollution? 3. Wind currents Pollution from Great Lakes & Ohio found in Canada & Ireland Grasshopper effect: when volatile compounds evaporate from warm areas, travel by wind, & condense over cooler areas Over years, pollutants biomagnify in arctic food chain Whales, polar bears, sharks have shown dangerously high levels of pesticides, metals, etc. Day 3

28

29 Day 3

30

31 What environmental factors affect air pollution?Atmosphere What environmental factors affect air pollution? 4. Temperature Inversions = when a layer of warm air overlays cooler air Prevents wind currents from dispersing air pollution Occur in valleys where air movement is restricted; ex: Los Angeles Day 3

32 Normal rain is slightly acidic due to carbon dioxide and water reacting to form this acid: Battery b. Nitric c. Carbonic d. Sulfuric 2. The secondary pollutant nitric acid forms from which primary pollutant’s reaction with water? A. NOx b. CO2 c. SO2 d. H2O

33 Atmosphere How is air pollution regulated? Clean Air Act (1970; 1990)Gave the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) authority to regulate car emission & industry pollution Eliminated lead in gas, required catalytic converters (cleans exhaust) Requires industries to use pollution-controlling devices - Scrubber: machine that dissolves many air pollutants in water Day 3

34

35

36 Note Break True or False. Air pollution can reduce plant crop yields and result in loss of money. A. True b. False The majority of sulfur dioxide produced by industry comes from: A. Oil refineries b. Coal-burning power plants c. Chemical plants d. Dry cleaners Acid precipitation has a pH lower than: A b. 5 c d. 9 Acid rain reacts with the ______________ in building materials to cause damage: A. Calcium carbonate b. Limestone c. Magnesium bicarbonate d. Baking soda

37 Stratospheric Ozone DepletionDay 4

38 Ozone Depletion Atmosphere: made up of layers: TroposphereStratosphere** Mesosphere Thermosphere Exosphere

39 Ozone Depletion Ozone layer= layer in stratosphere where ozone (O3) is highly concentrated Serves to absorb most of the UV radiation coming from sun; i.e., protects us! Day 4

40 Ozone Depletion Thinning of Ozone Layer aka Hole in OzoneCaused by Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) & other chemicals that destroy ozone – esp. over Antarctica CFCs break down under UV radiation → form chlorine atoms, which convert O3 into O2 + O CFCs were invented by General Motors in 1930s & used in fridges, air conditioners, insulation, aerosol, etc. In 1974, Rowland & Molina showed that CFC’s destroy ozone layer – took another 15 years for industries to comply Day 4

41 Ozone Depletion Thinning of Ozone layer cont.Ozone loss = increased UV radiation – leads to: Skin cancer Cataracts Reduced immunity Death of phytoplankton (disrupts food chain) Montreal Protocol: 1987 international meeting where nations agreed to limit use of CFCs. Day 4

42 ≠ Ozone Depletion IMPORTANT NOTE:Ozone Depletion DOES NOT cause Global Warming! Ozone depletion increases UV radiation – NOT heat! Day 4 ≠

43 Global Climate Change Day 4

44 What controls our climate?Global Climate Change What controls our climate? Climate = long-term weather conditions at a particular place Determined by: Latitude – most important – determines amount of sunlight Wind patterns Oceanic current patterns Geography Day 4

45 Global Climate Change Greenhouse Effect= solar energy goes through the atmosphere & heats the earth; as this heat radiates up from Earth’s surface, some of it is absorbed by gases & warms the air Greenhouse gases (H20, CO2, N2O (nitrous oxide),CH4 (methane)) trap heat in the atmosphere The greenhouse effect is a natural process, without which it is estimated that Earth’s average temperature would be about 4°F (-16°C). Day 4

46 Global Climate Change To Blame: Carbon Dioxide (CO2) increasing in atmosphere due to burning of fossil fuels (oil, coal, natural gas)

47

48 Global Climate Change Note on Carbon Dioxide (CO2)CO2 goes up & down in atmosphere each year: In spring/summer, northern hemisphere faces sun & plants do photosynthesis = low atmospheric CO2 In fall/winter, n. hemisphere faces away from sun & plants not doing photosynthesis = high atmospheric CO2 CO2 + H2O + sun = C6H12O6 + O2

49 Global Climate Change Global Warming = increase in average temp. of Earth; “caused” by too many greenhouse gases, especially CO2 Global Climate Change = changes in precipitation, wind, storm intensities, & average temps. over time Evidence: 11 of 12 years from were the warmest years since record-keeping began in 1850 100 year trend for was a warming of 0.74˚C (1.3˚F) (the 1st half of this period rose ~ .07 ˚C per decade and the 2nd half of this period rose ~ 0.13˚C per decade). Changes in ocean temperature and sea levels (average sea level rise was 1.8mm/yr from and ~3.1mm/yr from ) Day 4

50 Global Climate Change Consequences of Global Climate ChangeRising sea levels as ice melts → flooding, beach erosion Stronger storms Negative effects on agriculture & crop yields Loss of biodiversity due to weather changes, habitat changes, pests & diseases, changes to food web Humans affected by change in food & water supply, tropical diseases, extreme weather Day 4

51 Global Climate Change Government Response to GCC:Kyoto Protocol = treaty written after 1997 international conference where global warming was recognized by the global community Treaty required developed countries to decrease CO2 emissions By 2008, 178 signed treaty, except US & Australia The use of alternative practices and regional initiatives, such as using alternative forms of energy (wind, methane, natural gas, and nuclear power) has helped reduce emissions in various countries and localities

52 Air & Global Climate ChangeWhat you can do for GCC: Drive less: walk, bike, carpool Get a hybrid or electric vehicle Use less hot water: cooler showers, wash clothes in cold water Turn down your thermostat Produce less waste & buy reusable products (not plastics – made from oil) Plant trees & support recycled paper