Topic to be studied: Air Pollution Enviro to go Topic to be studied: Air Pollution

Objectives: To describe the composition of the atmosphere. You should be able to: To describe the composition of the atmosphere. Explain the causes and effects of the greenhouse effect. Explain the causes and effects of acid rain. Describe the cause and effect of the hole in the ozone layer.

Vocabulary Greenhouse effect Ultraviolet radiation Carbon dioxide Ozone pH Chlorofluorocarbons Acid rain

Our air consists of: 78% Nitrogen 21% oxygen Trace amounts of argon, carbon dioxide, and water vapor

How does our air get polluted? The biggest contributor of sulfur dioxide is electricity production. The biggest contributor of carbon monoxide is transportation.

What are the effects of air pollution? 1. Acid Rain 2. Greenhouse effect 3. Hole in the ozone layer

Acid Rain Rain, snow or fog that is polluted by acid in the atmosphere and damages the environment . Acid rain has a pH of 5.0 or lower.

What Molecules Causes Acid Precipitation?

Sulfur dioxide generally a by-product of industrial processes and burning fossil fuels.

Nitrogen oxide Comes from the combustion of fuels in motor vehicles, residential and commercial furnaces, industrial and electrical utility boilers and engines

What are the effect of acid rain? Corrosion of building materials Stunting fish growth Increases soil acidity

Ozone The Earth is wrapped in a blanket of air called the atmosphere. The ozone layer is in the stratosphere. The ozone layer protects the earth from ultraviolet radiation.

As the amount of ozone increases in the stratosphere, the ability of UV light to enter the earth decreases. As the amount of ozone decreases in the stratosphere the ability of UV light to enter the earth increases.

What causes the ozone hole? One group of gasses that damages the ozone layer are called CFC’s (chlorofluorocarbons) They are found in: Spray cans Refrigerants Fire extinguishers Plastic foam containers Air conditioners

The Greenhouse Effect 1- Sunlight passes through the atmosphere and warms the Earth. 2- Energy from the Sun is absorbed and then radiates back into the atmosphere as heat. Some escapes into space. 3- Some energy is absorbed by greenhouse gasses and radiates back toward the Earth’s surface.

Major Greenhouse gasses Click here to see what Popular Science named at the top 10 greenhouse gases.

Is the Level of Carbon Dioxide Increasing? From 1958 to 2000 carbon dioxide levels increased from 314 parts per million to 368 parts per million. This was a 17% increase in just 42 years! This increase may have been from burning fossil fuels.

Global Warming Some scientists think that increases in greenhouse gasses will result in overall warmer temperatures. Others think that the increase in temperature is a natural fluctuation. Earth’s temperature has increased more than .6 degrees Celsius Snow and ice cover has decreased Sea levels have risen. http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/environment/global-warming-environment/antarctica-ice.html