GEOL 108 - Crises of a Planet
Lab 11 - Air Pollution
Nov. 13 - 16, 2012
Department of Earth Sciences
QUIZ 9 REVIEW
Label the wells in the figure below with the appropriate letter, using each letter
once. Draw a dashed line representing a possible potentiometric surface.
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Department of Earth Sciences
QUIZ 9 REVIEW
In last week’s demonstration, in what direction did groundwater flow in the
groundwater model (the ant farm up front).
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Department of Earth Sciences
QUIZ 9 REVIEW
Extreme ground
subsidence has occurred in
the San Joaquin Valley,
California, causing the land
surface to drop up to 30
feet in elevation. How
might this occur by over
pumping of the aquifer?
Bonus: The geologist president
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Department of Earth Sciences
LAB 11 - AIR POLLUTION
+
=
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Department of Earth Sciences
AIR POLLUTION IN HISTORY
• St. Louis - 1939
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AIR POLLUTION IN HISTORY
•
•
London - 1952
6-12,000 killed
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AIR POLLUTION IN HISTORY
•
Beijing Olympics 2008
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AIR POLLUTION AROUND THE WORLD
• NO2 around the world
• Leads to production of ozone in the lower atmosphere
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PARTICULATE MATTER
• Tiny bits of solid or liquid suspended in a gas
• Linked to asthma, lung cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory
disease, birth defects.
• PM10 refers to particles less than 10 microns (1 x 10-5 meters)
• The smallest particles can pass through cell membranes
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POLLUTION COMPOSITION
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ALTERNATIVE FUELS
Compressed Natural Gas
Compared to diesel buses, reduces emissions of particulates by 90%,
carbon monoxide by 80%, and greenhouse gases by 20%
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Department of Earth Sciences
ALTERNATIVE FUELS
Hydrogen
Car emits only water vapor, but the most common source for
hydrogen is natural gas, which releases greenhouse gases during
production.
Additional challenges with building infrastructure.
Existing hydrogen
fueling stations in LA
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AIR POLLUTION IN LOS ANGELES
• Geography and climate of LA enhances smog effect
− Though air temperature usually decreases with elevation in the
troposphere, this is not the case in Los Angeles
− Layer of warm air above city prevents normal circulation
− Typically sunny days initiates reactions that create smog
http://rustylopez.typepad.com/imagoarticulus/2007/02/inversion_layer.html
Ritter, Michael E. The Physical Environment: an Introduction to Physical Geography.
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Department of Earth Sciences