Class 13b: Air pollution
• Particulate matter
• Acid rain
• Photochemical smog
• Ozone and the ozone layer
Air pollution
• Pollution: concentration of substances that
harms living things
• Ash, smoke, dust, pollen
• Fossil fuels, solvents
• 3 million deaths worldwide
Air pollution
• Physical geography
– Prevailing winds
– Topography and inversions
• Level of urbanization, industrialization
• Particulate matter or chemical compounds
Particulate matter
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Source: incomplete burning of fuel
Respiratory problems
Short transport distance
Closest to source = most affected
Acid rain
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Source: burning fossil fuels
Sulfur from coal becomes sulfuric acid
Terrestrial effects (forests, soils)
Aquatic effects
Material effects (buildings, monuments)
Photochemial smog
• Sources: incomplete burning of fuel
• Nitrogen dioxide, hydrocarbons, and
sunlight
• Forms ozone at ground level
• Respiratory problems, damage to plants
Ozone non-attainment days, 1993-2002
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Riversi de-San Berna rdino , CA
Fre sno, CA
Bakersfield , CA
Sacrame nto, CA
Bal timo re, MD
Lo s An gele s-Lon g Bea ch, CA
Wa shin gton , DC-MD-VA-WV
Phi lade lphi a, PA-NJ
St. Lo uis, MO-IL
New Yo rk, NY
Clevel and-L orain -Elyria, OH
Pittsbu rgh, PA
Newark, NJ
Cincinn ati, OH-KY-IN
Atlanta, GA
Fo rt Wo rth-Arl ington, TX
Hous ton, TX
Detro it, MI
Buffalo -Ni agara Fal ls, NY
Gary, IN
Chicago , IL
1993
2002
16 7
59
97
96
91
91
20
48
39
39
11 2
52
51
9
11
16
13
13
5
36
9
27
5
1
0
3
35
34
33
32
30
29
28
27
26
24
23
22
21
21
20
20
Dall as, TX
San Diego , CA
Bos ton, MA-NH
Milwau kee -Waukesh a, WI
Ve ntura , CA
Sal t La ke Ci ty-Og den, UT
Denver, CO
San Jo se, CA
Pho enix-Mesa , AZ
La s Ve gas, NV-AZ
Minn eapo lis-St. Pau l, MN-WI
Sea ttle -Belle vu e-Everett, WA
San Fran cis co, CA
Orang e Coun ty, CA
12
58
2
4
43
2
3
4
14
3
0
0
0
25
15
13
13
12
10
7
7
6
6
2
1
0
0
0
link
Ozone layer
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Ozone is necessary at high altitude
Absorbs UV (ultraviolet) radiation
CFCs, other chemicals break down ozone
One of few international success stories