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The Pollutant Cycle

The Pollutant Cycle. Lecture in Weather, Climate and Landscape Changes Geography 096 March 25th, 2008 April Hiscox The University of Connecticut. Outline. Air Pollution The Pollution Cycle Acid Rain Effects Monitoring Efforts. Atmospheric Pollutants.

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The Pollutant Cycle

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  1. The Pollutant Cycle Lecture in Weather, Climate and Landscape Changes Geography 096 March 25th, 2008 April Hiscox The University of Connecticut

  2. Outline • Air Pollution • The Pollution Cycle • Acid Rain • Effects • Monitoring Efforts

  3. Atmospheric Pollutants • A pollutant is anything that has a detrimental effect on people, infrastructure or the environment • Primary pollutants are emitted directly • Secondary pollutants are formed in the atmosphere

  4. Criteria Pollutants • Carbon Monoxide (CO) • Lead (Pb) • Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) • Particulate Matter (PM10/PM2.5) • Ozone (O3) • Sulfur Oxides (SOx) • Additional Information at: http://www.epa.gov/air/airpollutants.html

  5. HAPS • Hazardous air pollutants (HAPS) are those pollutants that are known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health effects, such as reproductive effects or birth defects, or adverse environmental effects. • 188 toxics are identified • Emission is regulated

  6. Outline • Air Pollution • The Pollution Cycle • Acid Rain • Effects • Monitoring Efforts

  7. The Pollutant Cycle Chemistry and transport From: Inside Rain, National Atmospheric Deposition Program (http://nadp.sws.uiuc.edu/)

  8. Pollutant Sources • Natural Sources: • forest fires, volcanoes, and oceanic salt, • Anthropogenic Sources: • power plants, newly plowed fields, motor vehicles, etc.

  9. © Las Cruces Sun News

  10. Atmospheric Deposition • Atmospheric deposition is the process wherebyairborne material is deposited on the earth'ssurface.

  11. Wet Wet deposition is the fraction ofatmospheric deposition contained in precipitation Anything attached to water in some form Dry Dry deposition is the fraction deposited in dry weather throughsuch processes as settling, impaction, and adsorption. Anything not attached to water Atmospheric Deposition

  12. What happens in between? • TRANSPORT • Global winds • Mixing and Cloud Formation • TRANSFORMATION • Chemical reactions

  13. Factors affecting transport http://irina.eas.gatech.edu/lectures/lec17fig4.jpg

  14. Factors affecting transport • Wind • Stability • Turbulence • Topography

  15. Stability Source: “Air Pollution Meteorology and Dispersion”, By S Pal Arya, Oxford University Press 1999, Fig 3.16

  16. Topography Effects NASA: Earth from Space http://earth.jsc.nasa.gov/sseop/EFS/ PHOTO=STS61B-40-65

  17. Factors affecting Transformation • Solar radiation • Aids in the formation of ozone • Humidity & Precipitation • Provide moisture content for pollutants to bind to  formation of secondary pollutants • Cloud formation Source: aura.gsfc.nasa.gov/outreach/garden_faq.html

  18. Precipitation • The GOOD: • washes pollutant particles from the air • helps to minimize particulate matter formed by activities such as construction and some industrial processes. • The BAD: • Acid Rain

  19. Outline • Air Pollution • The Pollution Cycle • Acid Rain • Effects • Monitoring Efforts

  20. Acid Precipitation • Deposition that is acidic • 1872: Acid rain is first identified, with observations of plant deterioration • 1970’s: observations of increased acidity in lakes and streams is linked to long range transport of pollutants • 1980: Acid Deposition Act established a 10 year research program (NAPAP: National Acidic Precipitation Assessment Program) • 1990: amendments to the Clean Air Act are designed to control SO2 and NOx emissions

  21. The pH scale • “clean rain” has a pH of 5.6 • “Acid rain” is anything with a pH <5 Source: “Acid Rain Revisited” Hubbard Brook Research Foundation

  22. Chemistry of Acid Rain Source: http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange1/current/lectures/kling/water_nitro/water_nitro.html

  23. Outline • Air Pollution • The Pollution Cycle • Acid Rain • Effects • Monitoring Efforts

  24. What are the effects? • Global circulation makes acid rain a global problem. • All parts of the ecosystem are effected directly or through secondary effects • Soil • Loss of calcium • Build of up sulfur and nitrogen • Forest stress • Decreased tolerance for cold • Root function and nutrition mechanisms are impaired • Water • Acidified lakes and streams effect the whole ecosystem • Aquatic life is threatened, loss of species, etc.

  25. What are the effects? • People • Health effects from SO2 and NOx • Infrastructure (cars and buildings)

  26. Effects • In 1991, NAPAP provided its first assessment of acid rain in the United States. • 5% of New England Lakes were acidic • 2% of the lakes could no longer support Brook Trout • 6% of the lakes were unsuitable for the survival of many species of minnow • Subsequent Reports: • chemical changes in soil and freshwater ecosystems, nitrogen saturation, decreases in amounts of nutrients in soil, episodic acidification, regional haze, and damage to historical monuments.

  27. Outline • Air Pollution • The Pollution Cycle • Acid Rain • Effects • Monitoring Efforts

  28. Monitoring Networks: Ambient Air Quality • Carried out by state, tribal, and local agencies • State and Local Air Monitoring Stations (SLAMS) • National Air Monitoring Stations (NAMS) • Special Purpose Monitoring Stations (SPMS). • Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Station (PAMS)

  29. Monitoring Networks: Ambient Air Quality • 4000+ sites, depend on local needs and attainment status www.epa.gov

  30. Monitoring Networks • NADP: National Atmospheric Deposition Program • Weekly monitoring at 250 stations • Long term data records available to the public

  31. Measured Deposition • Hydrogen (acidity as pH) • Sulfate • Nitrate • Ammonium • Chloride • Base cations • calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium • (Mercury)

  32. The NADP Network

  33. TRENDS

  34. 1984 1986 Sulfate Ion Wet Deposition 1985-2005 1985

  35. 1985 1987 Sulfate Ion Wet Deposition 1985-2005 1986

  36. 1986 1988 Sulfate Ion Wet Deposition 1985-2005 1987

  37. 1987 1989 Sulfate Ion Wet Deposition 1985-2005 1988

  38. 1988 1990 Sulfate Ion Wet Deposition 1985-2005 1989

  39. 1989 1991 Sulfate Ion Wet Deposition 1985-2005 1990

  40. 1990 1992 Sulfate Ion Wet Deposition 1985-2005 1991

  41. 1991 1993 Sulfate Ion Wet Deposition 1985-2005 1992

  42. 1992 1994 Sulfate Ion Wet Deposition 1985-2005 1993

  43. 1993 1995 Sulfate Ion Wet Deposition 1985-2005 1994

  44. 1994 1996 Sulfate Ion Wet Deposition 1985-2005 1995

  45. 1995 1997 Sulfate Ion Wet Deposition 1985-2005 1996

  46. 1996 1998 Sulfate Ion Wet Deposition 1985-2005 1997

  47. 1997 1999 Sulfate Ion Wet Deposition 1985-2005 1998

  48. 1998 2000 Sulfate Ion Wet Deposition 1985-2005 1999

  49. 1999 2001 Sulfate Ion Wet Deposition 1985-2005 2000

  50. 2000 2002 Sulfate Ion Wet Deposition 1985-2005 2001

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