Environmental ScienceLesson 14: Air Pollution, Climate Change, and Ozone Depletion

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Day 1 Bell Ringer

In your own words, describe what the term “atmosphere” means.

Lesson 14.1Why are the Major Air Pollution Problems?

What you will learn…●the layers of the atmosphere

●the causes and effects of outdoor and indoor air pollution

●factors that increase and decrease air pollution

●actions that people and governments can take to reduce air pollution

Key Terms

●ozone layer

●air pollution

●temperature inversion

●smog

●acid deposition

The Atmosphere Consists of Layers

● Life exists under a blanket of gases surrounding Earth, known as the _____________.

● Consists of several layers

Troposphere

● About 75%-80% of Earth’s air mass is found in the _________________.

● It extends about 11 miles above sea level at the Equator.○ About 99% of the air you breathe is made of Nitrogen

(78%) and Oxygen (21%).● Argon, Carbon Dioxide, Water Vapor, Dust Particles,

Methane, Ozone, and Nitrous Oxide make up the remainder.○ Known as _______________ ______________

■ Absorb and release energy that warms the troposphere and play an important role in the ________________.

Stratosphere

● The next layer is the stratosphere, and its composition is similar to that of the _____________.

● Contains less matter than the troposphere and has a lower volume of ______ _______.

● Has a higher concentration of __________, which is concnetrated in the ozone layer.

Mesosphere

●Region of Earth’s atmosphere that is between the stratosphere and the thermosphere●Temperature ______________ as altitudes

increase in the mesosphere.●Extends about 31-53 ______ above our

planet●Air is too thin for humans to breathe in

Thermosphere●Region of Earth’s atmosphere that is between the ________________ and the exosphere

●Temperature increases as _________ increases

●Roughly 319 miles thick●About 56-621 miles above our planet

Exosphere

● Outermost region of Earth’s atmosphere

● About _____ miles thick● Air is very thin and is

made up mostly of helium and hydrogen

● Trace amounts of carbon dioxide and atomic oxygen can also be found in the exosphere.

Day 1 Exit Ticket

List the layers of the atmosphere in order and a saying to help you remember them.

(Be prepared to share!)

Day 2 Bell Ringer

Why is the ozone layer important?

Provide specific examples.

Air Pollution Comes from Natural and

Human Sources

●Air pollution is any gaseous or solid material in the atmosphere that occurs in concentrations high enough to harm organisms, _____________, or human-made materials, or to alter ___________.○ Effects range from

annoying to lethal

Air Pollutants

●Natural air pollutants include wind-blown dust, pollutants from wildfires and volcanic eruptions, and volatile organic compounds released by plants.●Most spread over the globe ●Most become diluted or are removed

through precipitation, chemical cycles, and/or gravity.

Air Pollutants {cont’d.}● Human sources of air pollution

usually occur in industrialized or urban areas.

● These are places where factories, cars, and people are concentrated. ○ Fossil fuels are burned in

power plants and industrial facilities.

○ Motor vehicles contribute to air pollution.

Air Pollutants {cont’d.}

● Air pollutants are classified as primary or secondary.● Primary:○ substances emitted directly into the air from natural

processes and human activities ○ high enough to cause ________

● Secondary:○ some primary pollutants _________ with one another

and cause the air to form secondary pollutants

●Carbon Monoxide is odorless and colorless, but highly ___________.●Sources include motor vehicle exhaust, burning forests and grasslands,

smokestacks of burning __________ __________, tobacco smoke, open fires, and inefficient stoves using for cooking or heating.●CO2 detectors are important and can be life-saving.●CO2 reduces the body’s ability to transport oxygen to cells. ●Long-term exposure can lead to heart attacks, and can aggravate asthma and

emphysema.●At high levels, it can cause headaches, nausea, drowsiness, collapse, coma,

and ______________.

Carbon Oxides

Nitrogen Oxides and Nitric Acid●Nitric Oxide is a colorless gas●NO2 forms when nitrogen and oxygen gases react under high temperatures in car engines and

coal-burning power and industrial plants.●Lightning and some bacteria in the soil can produce it also.●NO reacts in the air with oxygen to form NO2, a reddish-brown gas.●NO and NO2 collectively are known as __________ ___________●Some of the NO2 reacts with water vapor in the air and forms nitric acid (HNO3) and nitrate

salts (NO3), which are components of harmful acid deposition.●N2O is a _____________ ___________ emitted from fertilizers and animal wastes and is also

produced by burning fossil fuels, and can irritate one’s health.

Sulfur Dioxide and Sulfuric Acid

● Sulfur dioxide is a _____________ gas with an ____________ odor.

● About one-third of the SO2 in the atmosphere comes from natural sources○ volcanoes

● Two-thirds of it comes from ____________ sources.○ sulfur-containing coal in

power/industrial plants○ oil refining

○ smelting of sulfide ores

Sulfur Dioxide and Sulfuric Acid {cont’d.}

● So2 can be converted in the atmosphere to aerosols and returned to Earth as a part of acid deposition.○ The particles that form reduce ____________, aggravate breathing

issues, damage crops, trees, soils, and aquatic life in lakes.○ They also can corrode metals, damage ___________, paper, leather,

and stone on monuments, walls, and ___________.

Several Factors Affect Air Pollution

● Air Pollution is affected by numerous factors.

● Some factors help to decrease it, while others help to increase it.

○ Decrease:

■ particles settle out as a result of ___________

■ rain and snow cleanse the air

■ ocean sea spray washes them out

■ __________ sweep pollutants away

■ pollutants are removed by chemical reactions

○ Increase:

■ urban buildings slow wind speed and reduce the dilution

of pollutants

■ hills and mountains reduce the flow of air and reduce

the dilution of pollutants

■ high _________________ promote the chemical reactions

leading to the formation of chemical smog

■ emissions of VOCs from certain trees/plants promote

photochemical smog

■ air pollution through the grasshopper effect

■ increase in pollution due to the vertical increase in air.

Smog

● Smog is a major health hazard. ● Industrial smog is a mix of _________ _______,

suspended droplets of sulfuric acid, and suspended particles in outside air.

● Urban smog is _______ of a problem than it used to be years ago in many major cities like London, Chicago, and Pittsburgh.

● It is still a large problem in other ____________ areas like China, India, Bulgaria, Poland, among others.

Acid Deposition● Acid deposition, also known as ______

_____, is any form of ________________ that has elevated levels of hydrogen ions.● It can have harmful effects to aquatic

animals, plants, and infrastructure.● Caused by the industrial burning of coal

and other __________ _________, a combination of the waste gases from which contain sulfur and nitrogen oxides, which combine with atmospheric water to form acids.

Acid Deposition {cont’d.}

VIDEO:

What is Acid Rain? | National Geographic

Laws, Regulations, and Air Pollution

● The United States passed the Clean Air acts in 1970, 1977, and 1990.

● Established air pollution regulations for key outdoor air pollutants that are enforceable by __________ and ___________.

● Air quality standards have been established for six outdoor pollutants: CO, NO2, SO2, SPM, O3, and lead.

Day 2 Exit Ticket Complete the following statement:

The Clean Air Act affects me in that...

Day 3 Bell Ringer

How does acid deposition affect humans and the environment?

Lesson 14.2 What are the Effects of Climate Change?

What you will learn...●the definition of climate change

●evidence indicative of Earth’s rapidly-changing climate

●how models are used to estimate future climate change

●the effects of present and projected future climate change

Key Terms● climate change

● carbon footprint

● drought

Climate Change Has Accelerated

● Climate change is a change in the weather conditions of Earth over a period of at least three ______________.

● Many factors have altered our planet’s climate over the past 3.5 ______________ years.

○ large-scale volcanic eruptions○ changes in solar input○ slowly-moving continents○ impacts by large meteors○ slight changes in Earth’s wobbly orbit around the

sun

Climate Change Has Accelerated {cont’d.}

● Earth’s ______________ is also affected by global air circulation patterns, changes in the sizes of large areas of ice, varying concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and occasional changes in ocean currents.

● The climate on Earth has fluctuated over the last _____________ years.○ long periods of atmospheric warming and long periods of atmospheric

cooling● Earth has experienced a generally steady climate over the last ___________

years which allowed the human population to grow.● In the 19th and 20th centuries, temperatures began to rise.

○ Clearing forests and grasslands, and burning fossil fuels has increased greenhouse gases that play a key role in the temperatures.

Making Choices About Climate Change

VIDEO:

Climate Change 101 with Bill Nye | National Geographic

Making Choices About Climate Change

● Greenhouse Effect

● The Role of Oceans

● Cloud Cover

● Aerosols

Day 3 Exit Ticket

Which might be more effective:

Command and Control or Cap and

Trade and why?

Day 4 Bell Ringer

Think about indoor air pollutants. Label the

house diagram with at least five that can be

reduced or eliminated.

Rapid Atmospheric Warming Could Have Serious Effects

●We face a ______________ projected increase in the average temperature of the lower atmosphere during this _____________.●There are many variables that affect this:○ Snow and Ice Melt○ Permafrost Melt○ Sea-Level Rise○More Extreme Weather○ Biodiversity Loss○ Decline in Food Production○ Threats to Human Health, National Security, and Economies

VIDEO:

See the Extreme Ice Changes Near the Antarctic

Peninsula | Short Film Showcase

Snow and Ice Melt

Permafrost Melt● Permafrost exists in soils beneath 25% of the exposed

land in Alaska, ____________, and Siberia.● Huge amounts of carbon are locked in permafrost soils.● __________ ___________ is projected to thaw significant

amounts of permafrost soil.○ This change has already begun to occur.

Sea-Level Rise

● Sea levels are likely to rise by 0.4-0.6 meters by the end of this century.

● That is _______ times higher than the increase that occurred last ____________.

● This can cause disruption of fisheries, flooding, erosion, and submersion of low-lying island areas.

●Climate change affects various parts of our planet in different ways.●Atmospheric warming can lead to ___________, or prolonged periods of dry weather.●It also results in longer and more intense ______ ___________.

More Extreme Weather

Biodiversity Loss

● It will also likely alter ecosystems and biodiversity.●Up to ____% of the Amazon rainforest

could be lost because the land would be converted to a tropical savannah due to increased temperatures. ● 35-70% of the world’s species could

face extinction by the year ________.

Decline in Food Production

● Food production might be affected as well due to changes from shifting climates and an intensified hydrologic cycle.

● This makes growing crops more challenging, and some simply will not be as abundantas they have been in the past.

Threats to Human Health, National Security, and Economics

● More frequent ____________ waves will increase deaths and illnesses.● A warmer climate favors rapidly-multiplying insects.● It can increase microbes, toxic molds, and fungi.● Pollen-producing and other allergenic plants can increase.● Can increase pollution-related illnesses and _______________

Day 4 Exit Ticket

Write a key question that you will use as a starting point on Day 5 to help

guide your research on your assigned topic concerning the Effects of Rapid

Atmospheric Warming.

Day 5 Bell RingerWatch the following video:

Climate Change Impacts All of Us, But There's Hope | National Geographic

Reflect and share in 2-3 sentences. Why might climate change be such a critical issue for future generations?

Rapid Atmospheric Warming Could Have

Serious Effects

○ Snow and Ice Melt○ Permafrost Melt○ Sea-Level Rise○More Extreme Weather○ Biodiversity Loss○ Decline in Food Production○ Threats to Human Health,

National Security, and Economies

Day 5 Exit Ticket

Analyze this

photo. Make 1

observation, 1

inference, and

1 prediction.

Day 6 Bell Ringer

What if…

...you were put in charge of fixing the ozone layer in a faster way? What actions would you take to solve this issue?

Lesson 14.3How Can People Slow Climate Change?

What you will learn....

● the concept of a climate change tipping point

●ways people and government can slow atmospheric warming

● the pros and cons of geoengineering strategies to counteract climate change

Key Terms●mitigation●climate change tipping

point●carbon capture and

storage (CCS)●geoengineering

Dealing with Projected Climate Change Is Difficult

● Scientists believe that dealing with climate change is one of the most ____________ issues scientifically, economically, politically, and ethically.

● The issue is global and requires long-term plans, making changes difficult in general.

Dealing with Projected Climate Change Is Difficult {cont’d.}

● Two approaches:○ ________________ can occur by slowing down climate change to avoid

the most harmful effects of it.○ Adaptation recognizes that some climate change is unavoidable and

adapting to it will be necessary.● Natural systems will be irreversible once the ____________ ____________

____________ _____________ is reached.● Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions is critical for helping to reduce

climate change. ● The goal is to lessen the global increase in temperature change.

Dealing with Projected Climate Change Is Difficult {cont’d.}

● Cleanup and Geoengineering○ Engineers and scientists are designing ways to

cleanup and remove some of the ______ from the atmosphere.

○ Known as carbon capture and storage (CCS)○ Geoengineering strategies ______________

natural conditions to counter natural conditions to counter the enhancement of the greenhouse effect.

Dealing with Projected Climate

Change Is Difficult {cont’d.}

● Government strategies are useful for tackling climate change.○ Regulate CO2 and CH4 as climate-

changing pollutants.○ Phase out most polluting coal-burning

power plants over the next fifty years and replace them with renewable energy.

○ Make Carbon Emissions more expensive through _______________.

○ Use a market based cap-and-trade system.

○ Phase out government subsidies and tax breaks for the fossil fuel industry.

○ Focus research and development efforts that lower the cost of ___________ ______________ _____________________.

Dealing with Projected Climate Change Is Difficult {cont’d.}● Facing Climate Change○ __________ _________ is leading the way,

aiming to be the first country that cuts its net carbon emissions to __________ by the year __________.

○ Colleges and universities are using solar panels and hydropower.

○ You can help to reduce your own carbon footprint.

○ The world needs to make a 50-85% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Day 6 Exit Ticket

Reflect on this quote and share what it means to you:“There are no passengers on

Earth. We are all crew.” ~ Marshall McLuhan,

Canadian Professor and Philosopher

Day 7 Bell RingerHow might climate change affect the polar

bear and her cubs? Include their thoughts in the speech bubbles.

Lesson 14.4How Can People Reverse Ozone Depletion?

What you will learn....

● the causes and effects of stratospheric depletion

●how people can reverse ozone depletion

Key Terms●chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)

The Use of Certain Chemicals Threatens

the Ozone Layer● More harmful UV radiation reaches Earth’s surface

due to ____________ ozone levels in the stratosphere.● Ozone depletion can be reduced.● CFCs were discovered in the __________ and were

thought to be dream chemicals, but by the 1970s, scientists realized how harmful they are to the environment.

The Use of Certain Chemicals Threatens the Ozone Layer {cont’d.}

● Why It Matters○ More ozone depletion can lead to

more biologically-damaging UV-A and UV-B radiation reaching Earth’s surfaces.

○ Possible destruction of phytoplankton may also occur

People Can Reverse Ozone Depletion

●Stop producing ozone-depleting chemicals.○ Immediate and sustained

action through this measure will take sixty or more years for Earth’s ozone layer to recover.

●What You Can Do○ Stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.○ Do not use tanning beds and/or sun lamps.○ Wear protective clothing and sunglasses.○ Be aware that overcast skies do not protect you.○ Do not expose yourself to the sun when taking certain medications.○ Use a sunscreen with SPF and reapply often.

People Can Reverse Ozone Depletion{cont’d.}

Day 7 Exit TicketYou plan to spend the day outside at a family party during the summer. The weather is calling for cooler temperatures with

sunny skies. The following day, you will be going to an amusement and waterslide park with your friends. The weather forecast for that day predicts warmer temperatures with cloudy skies. How will your preparation to stay safe from the sun differ

during those two days?

Day 8 Bell Ringer

Define the vocabulary term

listed on your sticky note. Then quiz a peer near

you and vice versa.

Day 9 Bell RingerCreate one multiple choice question that covers a concept about air pollution, climate change, or ozone depletion. Then share it with a classmate. Allow him or her time to answer and then check it. Be

prepared to share with the class.

Day 9 Exit TicketList one or two questions or concerns you may have about Air Pollution, Climate Change, and Ozone Depletion or other topics covered within the unit.