1 / 15

2.2 Monitoring Air Quality and the Atmosphere

GO C2 Identify processes for Measuring the Quantity of Different Substances in the Environment and for Monitoring air and water Quality. 2.2 Monitoring Air Quality and the Atmosphere. Composition of Air. Air is comprised of: 78% Nitrogen 21% Oxygen < 1% Argon 0.03% Carbon Dioxide

jenna
Download Presentation

2.2 Monitoring Air Quality and the Atmosphere

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. GO C2 Identify processes for Measuring the Quantity of Different Substances in the Environment and for Monitoring air and water Quality. 2.2 Monitoring Air Quality and the Atmosphere

  2. Composition of Air • Air is comprised of: • 78% Nitrogen • 21% Oxygen • < 1% Argon • 0.03% Carbon Dioxide • Traces of Hydrogen, and Neon

  3. Guided Question Why is it important to monitor the quality of our air and atmosphere?

  4. Air quality can be determined in two ways: • By measuring levels of pollutants in the air (ground level ozone) • By estimating the amount of emissions from pollution sources (Fort McMurray oil sands) http://www.environment.alberta.ca/apps/aqhi/aqhi.aspx

  5. Sulfur Dioxide • SO2(g) is a major air pollutant • Forms both smog and acid rain • Formed when sulfur is combined with oxygen 2 SO2(g) + 4 H2O(l) + 2 CaCO3(s) + O2(g) CaSO4·2 H2O(s) + 2 CO2(g • Can also be formed when fossil fuels are burnt (coal, oil, natural gas) • It can harm your health by causing respiratory problems and eye problems • Industrial and electrical plants use “scrubbers” to reduce the SO2emissions by 99% • Limestone is reacted with the sulfur to produce gypsum

  6. Nitrogen Oxides • NOx(g) are also major air pollutants that form acid rain and smog • The “x” in the formula indicate that it is a mixture of NO2and NO • These are formed mainly from the combustion of fossil fuels, or industrial or electrical plants • The nitrogen from the burning of the fossil fuel combines with the oxygen to form NO it then combines with the O2 in the atmosphere to form NO2 (this gives a brown color)

  7. Carbon Monoxide - CO(g) • Is called the silent killer – it is colorless and odorless • It is formed when substances burn that contain carbon. • CO(g) forms if there is not enough oxygen in the air to produce CO2(g) • The main source is combustion of fossil fuels ( burning wood, airplane exhaust, cigarette smoke) • What carbon monoxide does is reduces the amount of oxygen that the blood carries in the body causing headaches, sleepiness, brain damage and possibly death • This is a reason why in the winter we are reminded to open the garage doors and move the car out to warm it up – allowing the CO to be released!

  8. Ground Level Ozone – O3 • This is an odorless and colorless gas also • It is made up of 3 oxygen atoms • At ground level it is formed from reactions with nitrogen and VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) • Most VOC’s come from man-made products like gasoline! • Many large cities have warnings (TWN) especially in the summer as these pollutants are kept close to the earth’s surface due to the heat • People with asthma, children, or respiratory problems or even a healthy adult that is outside in these conditions can do further damage to their lungs

  9. Chemicals in the Environment Chemicals in the air can cause mild to serious effects in local areas, but chemicals in the atmosphere can have serious global effects. Ozone depletion and climate change are the primary concerns internationally.

  10. Carbon Dioxide As A Greenhouse Gas Carbon dioxide occurs naturally in the environment, but increasing amounts that are being produced by various human activities is creating a concern globally. The increasing population and increasing use of fossil fuels is creating some issues.

  11. The Greenhouse Effect The Greenhouse Effect is a naturally occurring event, the result of greenhouse gases (water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other gases) trapping some of the outgoing energy - retaining heat in a way somewhat similar to the glass panels of a greenhouse, helping to maintain the Earth's average surface temperature of 15°C.

  12. The Enhanced Greenhouse Effect Many scientists support the theory that the enhanced greenhouse effect is causing temperatures to increase around the world. Human activities: essentially, the burning of fossils fuels is the primary reason.

  13. Global Warming http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab6jV4VBWZE It is not just human activities that are contributing to global warming, but volcanoes and forest fires are also part of the cause. The questions remain What should be done? Or Can we do anything about it at all?

More Related