Global Change

1. Greenhouse Effect

• Causes: green house gases (water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide (acid rain0, halogenated fluorocarbons, perflorinated carbons, hyddrofluorocarbons, ozone (troposphere).

• Where do green house gases come from?: transportation, landfills, burning fossil fuels, digestive gases of sheep and cattle, rice, released with natural gas,

• Results: Global warming

Stratospheric Ozone Depletion

• Causes: CFC’s• Effects: holes in good ozone which protects us

from UV light.

Global Climate Change

Evidence• Sea levels rising• Global temps rising• Warming oceans• Shrinking ice sheets• Extreme weather events• Ocean acification• Declining artic sea• Glacial retreat

Clean Air Act• In October 1948, Donora, Pennsylvania. The cloud which lingered for five days, killed 20 people

and caused sickness in 6,000 of the town's 14,000 people.

• In 1952, over 3,000 people died in what became known as London's "Killer Fog." The smog was so thick that buses could not run without guides walking ahead of them carrying lanterns.

• Events like these alerted us to the dangers that air pollution poses to public health. Several federal and state laws were passed, including the original Clean Air Act of 1963, which established funding for the study and the cleanup of air pollution.

• But there was no comprehensive federal response to address air pollution until Congress passed a much stronger Clean Air Act in 1970. That same year Congress created the EPA and gave it the primary role in carrying out the law.

• In 1990, Congress dramatically revised and expanded the Clean Air Act, providing EPA even broader authority to implement and enforce regulations reducing air pollutant emissions. The 1990 Amendments also placed an increased emphasis on more cost-effective approaches to reduce air pollution.

1. What is Air Pollution?

• The introduction of chemicals, particulate matter or microorganisms into the air in high enough concentrations to harm plants, animals and alter ecosystems.

• AKA: pollution in the troposphere.

2. Sources

• Anthropogenic vs natural

3. Examples

• Sulfur dioxide*• Nitrogen oxide*• Carbon monoxide*• Carbon dioxide• Particulate matter*• Lead*• Ozone*• VOC’s Volatile organic compounds• Mercury

4. Primary vs. Secondary Pollutants

Acid Rain aka Acid Deposition

• http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/videos/acid-rain-invisible-menace/

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc6j7zz1_do

Pages 122-124 and 129-134

• Sulfur dioxide*• Nitrogen oxide*• Carbon monoxide*• Carbon dioxide• Particulate matter*• Lead*• Ozone*• VOC’s Volatile organic compounds• Mercury

Pollutant Source (anthropogenic and natural)

Effects/Impacts Symbol

Mercury Coal, oil, and gold mining Impairs nervous system and bio-accumulates in the food chain.

Hg

Pollutant Source (anthropogenic and natural)

Effects/Impacts Symbol

Mercury Coal, oil, and gold mining Impairs nervous system and bio-accumulates in the food chain.

Hg

Sulfur dioxide Burning coal, volcanic eruptions and forest fires

Respiratory irritation, harms plant tissues, converts to sulfuric acid

SO2

Nitrogen oxide Cars, coal burning, lightning, fertilizer and animal waste

Converts to nitric acid, component of acid rain.

NO

Carbon Monoxide Cars, forest fires, tobacco smoke and inefficient stoves

Reduces blood’s ability to transport oxygen

CO

Carbon Dioxide Burning fossil fuels and deforestation

Global warming, climate change

CO2

Particulate matter Dust, wildfires, sea salt, coal burning, cars, plows, smoke

Asthma, shorten life, reduce visibility, corrode metals

PM

Lead Paint, leaded gasoline Harm nervous system, palsy and MR

Pb

Ozone Secondary pollutant from sunlight, water, Oxygen and VOC’s

Major component of photochemical smog, damages plants, heart disease and breathing problems.

O3

Ozone Secondary pollutant from sunlight, water, Oxygen and VOC’s

Major component of photochemical smog, damages plants, heart disease and breathing problems.

O3

Volatile OrganicCompounds

Hydrocarbons from plants, landfills, oil and natural gas wells,

Leukemia, blood disorders, and immune system damage

VOC’s

Secondary Pollutants

• Smog:• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6LHtQRgdII

– Industrial– Photochemical

PhotochemicalNitrogen based

Brown-airCatalyzed by UV

Developed countries

IndustrialSulfur based

Grey-air Not catalyzed by

UVNon developed

countries

• Temperature Inversions and Heat Islands

What can we do?

• Emphasizing tax incentives for pollution control rather than fines and penalties.

• Setting legislative standards for energy efficiency.• Increasing funds for research.• Distribute solar cook stoves to developing countries to

replace coal and wood burning.• Phase out two-cycle gas engines.• For sick building: control materials in construction, replace

and make repairs that have had water damage. Use paints, adhesives, etc in well ventilated areas, increase air circulation

• Provide incentives for mass transit.

Stratospheric Ozone Depletion

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1abN9E-Ojrc• Either a short comic strip (6 frames) or a short

children’s book, or an informative brochure.• Pages 90-96• Must include– Where is the ozone layer?– Major function– How are we depleting it?– What effects does this have on us?– What can we do about it?

5 Questions to know about stratospheric ozone depletion.

1. How is ozone formed in the atmosphere?2. Why do we care about atmospheric ozone?3. What is the total ozone depletion distributed

over the globe?4. What emissions from human activities lead

to ozone depletion?5. Are there controls on the production of

ozone-depleting substances?