10-1-2014
Section 2-2: Composition
of Air and Air Pollution
Lesson Objective
 By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
 Describe the relative amounts and kinds of elements and compounds
that compose the atmosphere.
 Describe the many gaseous compounds and particles released into
the atmosphere by human activity and natural causes.
 Explain the known and unknown effects of these human-released
materials on the atmosphere and on human health.
 Compare and contrast the effects of ozone near the surface vs.
ozone in the stratosphere.
 Explore the greenhouse effect and its relationship to atmospheric
composition.
 Identify the effects of air pollutants on human and environmental
health.
Question’s to Ask Yourself?
I.) What substances are found naturally in air?
II.) How is global warming both a human made and natural
occurring issue?
III.) How has the composition of air been changed by human
activity?
IV.) What effects do humans have on the atmosphere?
V.) How do fossil fuels affect air quality and human health?
VI.) How and why is Earth constantly changing?
Vocabulary
 I.) air quality
 II.) atmosphere
XIII.) Particulate Matter
VX.) Greenhouse Effect
 III.) carbon dioxide
XV.) Ozone (ground level)
 IV.) climate
XVI.) Chlorofluorocarbons
 V.) cloud emission
XVII.) Environmental Protection Agency
 VI.) fossil fuels
XVIII.) Environment
 VII.) global warming
XIX.) Ecological Effects
 VIII.) humidity
XX.) Acid Rain
 IX.) nitrogen
XXI.) Pollution
 X.) oxygen
XXII.) Ozone Layer (depletion)
 XI.) pollen
XXIII.) Organisms
 XII.) pollute
XVX.) London Smog
Videos
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8NqvkXyvkY
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTsxx1KZwlM
Notes
I.) What Substances are Naturally Found in Air?
a.) Nitrogen – 78%
b.) Oxygen – 21%
c.) Trace Gases: Argon, Carbon Dioxide, Water Vapor, Particulate
Matter, Aerosols, Ozone, Methane.
d.) Other substances include neon, helium, krypton, sulfur
dioxide,
methane, hydrogen, nitrous oxide, xenon, ozone,
nitrogen dioxide,
iodine, carbon monoxide, and ammonia.
*Particulate Matter and Aerosols naturally occur or are released as fossil
fuels.*
a.) Natural sources include: Volcanoes, pollen, bacteria, sea salt,
b.) Unnatural sources: Fossil fuels
* The effects of these added materials can cause increased cloud cover,
changes in weather, and respiration problems for living things.*
Notes
II.) How is global warming both a human made and natural
occurring issue?
 The atmosphere is in a constant state of flux as both natural
and unnatural processes alter its composition.
 Other common materials in the atmosphere come from natural
sources. Air contains dust, bacteria, pollen, salt from sea
spray, ash from volcanoes, water vapor, and even dead skin
cells (also known as particulate matter).
 An erupting volcano can change the composition of the
atmosphere locally and globally as winds carry particles over
large distances.
 The effects of these added materials can cause increased
cloud cover, changes in weather, and respiration problems for
living things.
Notes
II.) How is global warming both a human made and natural
occurring issue?
 Many changes to the composition of air also originate from
unnatural sources. The burning of fossil fuels releases
greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide. This is thought to be
responsible for a prominent increase in global temperatures over the
last century.
 Burning fossil fuels also causes the formation of ozone near Earth’s
surface, a component of smog. Other chemicals, such as sulfur from
burning coal and nitrogen compounds from industrial burning and car
emissions, readily combine with water vapor in the atmosphere to
create sulfuric and nitric acid rain.
 Finally, CFCs, or chlorofluorocarbons, cause the destruction of
beneficial atmospheric ozone in the stratosphere.
Notes
III.) How has the composition of air been changed by human activity?
 Air Quality: the degree to which the ambient air is pollution-free, assessed by measuring
a number of indicators of pollution.
 Air pollution: introduction of chemicals, matter, or other materials into the atmosphere
that can bring harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms and cause damage
to the environment.
 Photochemical Smog: brown haze formed when secondary pollutants interact with
sunlight.
 Emissions: pollutant released into the air from a given source, such as an automobile
tailpipe.
 Acid Rain: rain, snow, fog, and other forms of precipitation with a pH below 5.6 that can
harm plant and animal life and is formed when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides combine
with moisture in the atmosphere.
 Fossil Fuels: are fuels formed by natural processes such as buried organic decaying
matter. When Human’s burn fossil fuels, gases such as: Carbon Dioxide, Water Vapor,
Methane, Sulfur Dioxide, Nitrogen Oxide, ground level Ozone, ect.
 *The effects of these added materials can cause increased cloud cover, changes in
weather, and respiration problems for living things.*
Nuclear Power Plant
Chimney Stacks From
Industrial Companies
Car Exhaust Fumes
Smoke from Fire
Notes
 III.) How has the composition of air been changed by
human activity?
 The release of fossil fuels is increasing each year.
 China, India, and the U.S. are the leading participants in air
pollution.
 Air composition is constantly changing due to the increase in
mixtures of gases including sulfur oxides, nitrous oxides,
carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, smoke, particulate matter.
 Ground level Ozone is increasing in Urban area’s creating
smog during hot summer days.
Notes
 IV.) What effects do humans have on the atmosphere?
 Global Climate Change is increasing due to the emissions of fossil
fuels.
 The Earth is naturally changing, we are speeding up the process
(higher temperature = sea level rise = melting of polar ice caps =
more CO2 and water vapor in the atmosphere).
 Respiratory issues (such as bronchitis and asthma) will continue to
occur due to particulate matter and fossil fuel burning.
 Links to respiratory problems, global warming, and changes in
weather patterns are attributed to changes in atmospheric
composition. Increased erosion, changes in plant and animal
populations, and even increases in skin cancer from the destruction
of ozone are all potential hazards due to atmospheric composition
changes.
Notes
London Smog (London, England – Winter 1952)
 Was a severe air-pollution event that affected London during the
winter of 1952.
 Collected airborne pollutants, mostly from the use of coal, formed a
thick layer of smog over the city (Smog = Smoke + Fog).
 Government medical reports in the following weeks estimated that up
until 8 December 4,000 people had died prematurely and 100,000
more were made ill because of the smog's effects on the human
respiratory tract.
 It is known to be the worst air-pollution event in the history of the
United Kingdom, and the most significant in terms of its effect on
environmental research, government regulation, and public
awareness of the relationship between air quality and health.
Notes
 London Smog (December 1952 – February 8, 1953)
Video
 http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london20615186
Notes
V.) How do fossil fuels affect air quality and human health?
 Respiratory Illnesses including bronchitis and asthma are the
main issues with concerns to human health.
 Many different ecosystems are affected by the emissions of
fossil fuels.
 Cancer may occur (lung cancer, throat cancer, ect.).
 Acid Rain: is formed from the burning of fossil fuels from
factories. Acidic Gases are released such as: sulfur oxides and
nitrogen oxides. These gaseous chemicals react to clouds
present in the atmosphere to form sulfuric and nitric acids.
These acids drop with the rain.
Notes
 *Meteorologists can monitor how much Carbon, Sulfur,
Nitrogen, and any other compound/mixture of gases that is
occurring in the atmosphere.*
 Meteorologists use technology to measure these
gases/particles in the atmosphere.
 Meteorologists develop Air Pollution Indices to determine how
much gas is within the atmosphere.
 Meteorologists report to the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) when indices are out of compliance.
 EPA: is an agency of the United States federal government
whose mission is to protect human and environmental health.
Notes
VI.) How and why is Earth constantly changing?
 The atmosphere is in a constant state of flux as both natural
and unnatural processes alter its composition.
 The rate of change, and its effects on humans, is somewhat
unknown. Links to respiratory problems, global warming, and
changes in weather patterns are attributed to changes in
atmospheric composition.
 Increased erosion, changes in plant and animal populations,
and even increases in skin cancer from the destruction of
ozone are all potential hazards due to atmospheric composition
changes.
Notes
*How can we improve the methods on Air Pollution*
 Reducing emissions that cause poor air quality, ozone depletion
(Car Pooling, Driving Emission inspected cars).
 The rewards of addressing air pollution include improved
human health, increased productivity and reduced health costs
and a healthier, more productive environment. In turn, these
benefits will result in a healthier, more sustainable economy.
Review
 I.) Lesson Objective
 II.) Questions to Ask Yourself
 III.) Vocabulary
 IV.) Videos
 V.) Notes
 VI.) Ending Question
Essential Standard: 7.E.1 Understand how the cycling of matter (water and gases) in and out of the
atmosphere relates to Earth’s atmosphere, weather and climate and the effects of the atmosphere on
humans.
Clarifying Objective: Conclude that the good health of humans requires: monitoring the atmosphere,
maintaining air quality and stewardship.
Essential Question: 7.E.1.1 How are natural Earth processes essential to life? 7.E.1.6 What effects do
humans have on the atmosphere? How do fossil fuels affect air quality and human health? How is global
warming both a human made and natural occurring issue?
Learning Target: 7.E.1.1 I can describe how atmospheric gases are renewed and recycled through
earth’s processes. 7.E.1.6 I can investigate the importance of the ozone. I can explain the importance of
air quality on human health. I can evaluate how air quality is monitored and improved.
Learning Outcome: 7.E.1.6 I will explain how the ozone layer blocks harmful radiation. I will identify
greenhouse gases and their sources. I will identify point and non-point sources of pollution. I will research
ways to improve or maintain air quality. I will describe the effects of human influence on air quality. I will
utilize technology to find and define the difference between air quality standards.
Literacy Connections: R.7.4: Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific
words and phrases as they are used in specific scientific context.R.7.6: Analyze the author's purpose in
providing an explanation, describing a procedure, or discussing an experiment in a text.R.7.7: Integrate
quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text with a version of that information
expressed visually (e.g., in a flow chart, diagram, model, graph or table).R.7.8: Distinguish among facts,
reasoned judgment based on research findings, and speculation in a text.R.7.9: Compare and contrast the
information gained from experiments, simulations, video, or multimedia sources with that gained from
reading a text on the same topic.