Clouds & Particles
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2. Particles
Solution Worksheet 2
1. a) Cloud processing is transformation of aerosols inside a cloud. When
aerosols act as cloud condensation nuclei, they attract water and a layer of
water forms around them. Chemical reactions take place in this water layer
as the aerosol particle dissolves. This changes both the chemical
composition of the water and the aerosol particle itself. The aerosol particle
changes in size, it can either shrink as it dissolves or even grow as it takes
up water.
b) Dry deposition is the removal of dry aerosol particles from the air onto the
ground or onto the sea.
c) Wet deposition is the removal of aerosol particles from the air in rain or
snow. The aerosol particles can either enter the water droplets in the clouds
or can be scavenged from the air by falling rain drops.
2.
a) Smaller particles are more dangerous to inhale than bigger ones. When
we breathe in the air enters our lungs. The air we breathe contains particles.
The large particles are prevented from entering our bodies by the hairs in our
noses but the small particles are not trapped. These fine particles enter our
lungs. The smaller the particle is, the deeper it penetrates into our lungs.
The particles reach the 600 million pulmonary alveoli and irritate them. This
irritation causes breathing and respiratory problems, inflammation and can
even cause cancer.
b) The chemical composition of particles also affects how hazardous particles
are to our health. Some particles are made up of hazardous chemicals, such
as pesticides, heavy metals and other toxins… These dangerous chemicals
enter our lungs where they can be absorbed into our blood and body tissues.