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Air Pollution

New standard = 75 ppb. Air Pollution. Definitions History - Patterns & Principles Examples: SO 2 , Acid Rain, Ozone, Particulates (Aerosols and soot) . Definitions. Air pollution Standards Acute versus chronic Point versus non-point sources.

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Air Pollution

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  1. New standard = 75 ppb Air Pollution Definitions History - Patterns & Principles Examples: SO2, Acid Rain, Ozone, Particulates (Aerosols and soot)

  2. Definitions • Air pollution • Standards • Acute versus chronic • Point versus non-point sources • Asbestos, Pb, O3, Hg, Particulates, SO2, NOx, CO, 188 toxins • Global: Acid rain, climate change, O3 (stratospheric) • Health and Ecosystem Protection: acid rain, UV, Visibility • Indoor air: asthma, CO, mold, radon, smoke • Acute: High concentrations, short- or long-term, immediate health effects or visible damage • Chronic: Low concentrations, long-term, produces weakened organisms • Primary: Human Health • Secondary: Services and Facilities • Visibility

  3. 2008 ‘Present’ -3300 BC -5300 YBP Climate Change Ötzi - man Long-distance Transport Ozone Ozone-CO2 interactions Particulates (aerosols & soot) Heavy metals Crude Examination of History Takehome lessons: Presence since fire (or longer) Natural ---- Anthropogenic In your face, simple, acute Everywhere, pervasive, chronic, complex Role of development, technology

  4. Ötzi - der Mensch aus dem Eis Arsenic Copper http://www.viewzone.com/oetzi.html

  5. Industrial Revolution -3300 BC -5300 YBP Acute Local Point SO2 Ötzi - man Crude Examination of History Today Impacts: Individual, human health Visible damage black smoke

  6. North America’s Largest Sources of SO2 • Sudbury, Ontario, Canada (1883 to present) • Copper Hill/Duck Town, Tennesse (Pre-European to 1983) • ASARCO Smelter - Tacoma (1890 - 1985) • Anaconda Smelter - MT (1884 - 1980) • Smelterville/Kellogg, Idaho (1888 - 1981) • Trail BC

  7. 1990’s Further Reductions 1972 Super Stack 1250’ Acute to Chronic Local to Distant Simple to Complex History Continued - Sudbury Smelting of Nickel & Copper Point Source 1890 Ground Level Roasting Beds 1883 First Mine 1928 Roasting Beds - gone Tall stacks http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/envision/sudbury/air_quality/index.htm

  8. I I - Visible Damage on sensitive species II III II - Sensitive tree species dies, other trees show deformed crowns IV III - Shrubs and herbaceous plants die IV - Only most tolerant plants alive Sudbury - Ecological EffectsAcute, Point-Source Air Pollution: Principle Stages of Acute Air Pollution Damage + 90 miles 7000 Lakes Waste Land

  9. -3300 BC -5300 YBP Ötzi - man Crude Examination of History 2008 ‘Present’ Age of the Automobile Beginning of significant regulations Climate Change Chronic Dispersed Non-point Complex Smog Acid Precipitation Long-distance Transport Ozone Ozone-CO2 interactions Particulates (aerosols & soot) Heavy metals Regulations/Laws

  10. Transition from Acute, Point Source, Local to Chronic, Non-point source (or multiple), Distant • Acid Precipitation • Result of transferring problem from local to distant • Application of technologies to reduce smoke and soot • Takes incredible detective work, especially with terrestrial vs. aquatic systems • Greatest financial impact is on structures

  11. Tree & Ecosystem Images - Acid Rain

  12. Smog and LA ≤ 60 ppb > 125 ppb

  13. Example of an Ozone Episode

  14. Ozone Formed • Correct precursors • Sun light, warm temperatures • Inversion

  15. General Principle • Chronic levels of a pollutant do not kill humans, or plants outright; weaken. • A weakened person or plant -- Plant: its productivity or ability to make biomass decreases. How might this affect a trophic pyramid or prices of food? Human: Immune system compromised • Other stressors • THEN some other factor usually kills the human or plant.

  16. Today • Laws and Regulations: Clean Air Act of 1970 and most recent modifications • Combinations of ozone and elevated carbon dioxide. • Long-distance transport • Soot and aerosols • Yoram’s lecture: Cap and trade model for controlling SO2

  17. -3300 BC -5300 YBP Ötzi - man Crude Examination of History 2008 ‘Present’ Climate Change Long-distance Transport Ozone Ozone-CO2 interactions Particulates (aerosols & soot) Heavy metals

  18. Climate Problems/Global Change/Air Pollution 21st Century • Greenhouse gases: global warming (CO2, CFCs, NOx, CH4, H20) • Air pollution: NOx, SO2, haze, aerosols, O3, heavy metals (Hg, Pb, Cd), organic compounds • Ozone depletion: O3

  19. Contrails

  20. In the article by Travis and Carleton (2002), they used the abbreviation DTR. DTR = ? • Diffuse transmitted radiation • Diurnal temperature range • Delta transfer • Delayed transmission

  21. DTR = Daily temperature range Results Tmax - Tmin = DTR; set to zero for 1971 - 2000. Above the line, greater, below the line smaller. 1971 - 2000

  22. Contrails No Contrails No Contrails Contrails Mechanism Warmer Colder Day Day Night Night

  23. Aerosols, Haze and Soot

  24. V. Ramanathan in his testimony before Congress maintains that BC has the following characteristics: (select the false statement; three statements are true) • Is spread rapidly • Has major health impacts • Has a major impact on global warming • Has a relatively long atmospheric life-time

  25. Very Impressive Person

  26. Global Dimming The good old days Aerosols Aerosols & Soot Aerosols, BC and Climate Change Day

  27. Global Transport

  28. Aerosols Acid precipitation Greenhouse gases SO4= SO4= NO3- NO2 Synthesis SO2 CH4 CO2 N2O Carbon Cycle Sulfur Cycle Nitrogen Cycle Combustion N - cycle processes Biotic production of reduced sulfur gases by bacteria Volcanoes Combustion Photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition/fire fossil fuels/biofuels

  29. Summary • Definitions • Principles • History • Dan Jaffe’s Lecture on Wednesday • Long-distance transport • Tighter regulations/standards • Yoram’s lecture on Friday • Cap and trade • Taxes

  30. Orphaned Slides from previous Lectures • Emphasis on Acid Precipitation • What it is • How it impacts ecosystems

  31. SO4= NO3- H+ Acid Rain - 1 http://www.umac.org/ocp/4/info.html

  32. Acid Rain - 2 Bottomline: • H+ is being added • SO4= is being added • NO3- is being added

  33. Acid Rain - 3

  34. Acid Rain - Effects on Forest Ecosystems

  35. 2008 ‘Present’ Industrial Revolution Age of the Automobile -3300 BC -5300 YBP Climate Change Chronic Dispersed Non-point Complex Smog Acid Precipitation Acute Local Point SO2 Ötzi - man Long-distance Transport Ozone Ozone-CO2 interactions Particulates (aerosols & soot) Heavy metals Crude Examination of History Impacts: Individual, human health Non-human impacts Visibility Regulations/Laws Issues of Social Justice

  36. • Shallow rooted trees and plants Acid Rain - Effects on Forest & Aquatic Ecosystems: Major Detective’s job Where do plants get their required water and nutrients? CO2 - air N - soil & decomposition & input of NO3 Other minerals (Ca, Mg, K) - decomposition & weathering

  37. Chemical & Physical Secondary minerals (clays) Rocks (minerals) Weathering Parent material Climate Topography Vegetation Time Parent Material Continued • Geology of parent material • Certain soils are more susceptible to acid rain • Low soil carbon - poor acid buffering capacity

  38. Parent Material Continued • H+ acts to remove K+, Mg+, Mn+, Ca++ • NO3- combines with K+, Mg+, Mn+, Ca++ • Combination is very soluble, leaches out • If H+ very high, then Al+++ is removed. Clay - Ca++ Organic matter - K+ Clay - H+ Ca++NO3- Organic matter -H+ K+ NO3- Clay - H+Al+++ Organic matter -H+

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