1. Environmental Sciences Course Air: Climate and Pollution
Dr.-Eng. Hasan Hamouda
Eng. Osama Othman

2. CLIMATE CHANGE
Periodic weather cycles detected. - Solar magnetic cycles - Milankovitch Cycles - Periodic shifts in earth’s orbit and tilt. - Change distribution and intensity of sunlight reaching the earth. Ice cores show drastic changes may have occurred over short periods of time (decades).
University Of Palestine UNI Dr. Hasan Hamouda - Eng. Osama Othman

3. El Nino Southern Oscillation
Large pool of warm surface water in Pacific Ocean moves back and forth between Indonesia and South America.
- Most years, the pool is held in western Pacific by steady equatorial trade winds.
- Every three-five years the Indonesian low collapses and the mass of warm surface water surges back east.
University Of Palestine UNI Dr. Hasan Hamouda - Eng. Osama Othman

4. El Nino Southern Oscillation
University Of Palestine UNI Dr. Hasan Hamouda - Eng. Osama Othman

5. Human-Caused Global Climate Change
IPCC (2001) released report stating “recent changes in the world’s climate have had discernable impacts on physical and biological systems.”
Concluded human activities must be at least partially responsible.
University Of Palestine UNI Dr. Hasan Hamouda - Eng. Osama Othman

6. Greenhouse Gases Carbon Dioxide - Fossil-fuel burning.
- Atmospheric levels increasing steadily.
Methane - Ruminants, Coal-mines
- Absorbs more infrared than CO2.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s)- Refrigerants
- Declined in recent years
Nitrous Oxide - Burning organic material
Sulfur Hexafluoride - Electrical insulation
University Of Palestine UNI Dr. Hasan Hamouda - Eng. Osama Othman

7. Aerosol Effects
Aerosols have a tendency to reflect sunlight and cool surface air temperatures.
- Short-lived, thus effects are temporary.
- Mt. Pinatubo erupted in 1991 and ejected enough ash and sulfate particles to cool global climate about 1o C for nearly a year.
University Of Palestine UNI Dr. Hasan Hamouda - Eng. Osama Othman

8. Current Evidence of Climate Change
- Precipitation increased 1% in last century.
- Artic sea ice thinning.
- Alpine glaciers
retreating.
- Coral reefs bleaching.
University Of Palestine UNI Dr. Hasan Hamouda - Eng. Osama Othman

9. Winners and Losers
- Residents of extreme northern areas would enjoy warmer temperatures and longer growing seasons.
- Plant growth patterns may be altered.
- One-third of population living in areas likely flooded by rising seas.
- More evaporation may cause severe storms.
- Infectious disease likely to spread faster.
University Of Palestine UNI Dr. Hasan Hamouda - Eng. Osama Othman

10. International Climate Negotiations
- Kyoto Protocol (1997)
- 160 nations agreed to roll back carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide emissions about 5% below 1990 levels by 2012.
- Sets different limits for different countries, depending on prior output.
Developing countries exempted.
University Of Palestine UNI Dr. Hasan Hamouda - Eng. Osama Othman

11. Controlling Greenhouse Emissions
- Switch to renewable energy sources.
- Capture and Store CO2.
- Trees and farmland
- Inject into underground strata or deep ocean.
University Of Palestine UNI Dr. Hasan Hamouda - Eng. Osama Othman

12. CLIMATE & AIR POLLUTION
Major Kinds of Pollutants
- Photochemical oxidants (compounds formed with solar energy).
- Fugitive emissions -Do not go through smokestack.
- Conventional Pollutants - Group of seven major pollutants that contribute the largest volume of air-quality degradation.
- Ambient Air
University Of Palestine UNI Dr. Hasan Hamouda - Eng. Osama Othman

13. Conventional Pollutants
US Clean Air Act designated seven major (conventional or criteria) pollutants for which maximum ambient air levels are mandated.
- Sulfur Dioxide
- Carbon Monoxide
- Particulates
- Hydrocarbons
- Nitrogen Oxides
- Photochemical Oxidants
- Lead
University Of Palestine UNI Dr. Hasan Hamouda - Eng. Osama Othman

14. Major Pollutants Unconventional Pollutants
- Compounds produced in less volume than conventional pollutants, but are especially toxic or hazardous.
Aesthetic Degradation
- Reduce quality of life.
University Of Palestine UNI Dr. Hasan Hamouda - Eng. Osama Othman

15. Lead & Other Toxic Elements
Toxic metals and halogens are chemical elements that are toxic when concentrated and released in the environment.
- Metals
Lead, mercury, arsenic, nickel, beryllium, cadmium, thallium, uranium, cesium, and plutonium.
- Halogens
Fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine.
University Of Palestine UNI Dr. Hasan Hamouda - Eng. Osama Othman

16. Indoor Air Pollution
- EPA found indoor concentrations of toxic air pollutants are often higher than outdoor.
- People generally spend more time indoors.
- Smoking is the most important air
pollutant in the US.
- 430,000 die annually from a disease
related to smoking.
Associated costs are estimated at $ billion annually.
University Of Palestine UNI Dr. Hasan Hamouda - Eng. Osama Othman

17. Indoor Air Pollution
Less Developed Countries also suffer from indoor air pollution.
- Organic fuels make up majority of household energy.
Often burned in smoky, poorly ventilated heating and cooking fires.
University Of Palestine UNI Dr. Hasan Hamouda - Eng. Osama Othman

18. CLIMATE PROCESSES & AIR POLLUTION
Long-Range Transport
- Fine aerosols can be carried great distances by the wind.
- Sensitive monitoring equipment increasingly reveals industrial contaminants in places usually considered the cleanest in the world.
- Contaminants trapped by winds at the north pole, concentrate and eventually precipitate out, entering the food chain.
University Of Palestine UNI Dr. Hasan Hamouda - Eng. Osama Othman

19. Long-Range Transport
University Of Palestine UNI Dr. Hasan Hamouda - Eng. Osama Othman

20. Stratospheric Ozone
- At ground-level, ozone is a pollutant, but in the stratosphere it screens UV radiation.
- A 1% decrease in ozone results in a 2% increase in UV rays reaching the earth.
- Circumpolar vortex isolates Antarctic air and allows stratospheric temperatures to drop and create ice crystals at high altitudes.
- Absorb ozone and chlorine molecules.
When sun returns in the spring, energy liberates the chlorine allowing the depletion process to proceed rapidly.
- CFC’s believed to be main culprit.
Persist for decades.
University Of Palestine UNI Dr. Hasan Hamouda - Eng. Osama Othman

21. CFC Production
University Of Palestine UNI Dr. Hasan Hamouda - Eng. Osama Othman

22. Urban Climates Temperature Inversions
- Cool, dense air trapped below a warmer, lighter air mass.
- Pollutants cannot disperse and thus increase in concentration.
Heat Islands
- Temperature in cites warmer than surrounding areas.
Dust Domes
- Tall buildings create updrafts.
University Of Palestine UNI Dr. Hasan Hamouda - Eng. Osama Othman

23. EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION
Human Health
- EPA estimates each year 50,000 people die prematurely from illnesses related to air pollution.
- Likelihood of suffering ill health is related to intensity and duration of exposure.
- Inhalation is the most common route, but absorption through the skin and consumption via food can also occur.
University Of Palestine UNI Dr. Hasan Hamouda - Eng. Osama Othman

24. AIR POLLUTION CONTROL Reducing Pollution
- Most effective strategy for controlling pollution is to minimize polluting activities.
- Particulate Removal -Remove particles physically by trapping them in a porous mesh which allows air to pass through but holds back solids.
- Electrostatic Precipitators
University Of Palestine UNI Dr. Hasan Hamouda - Eng. Osama Othman

25. Reducing Pollution Sulfur Removal - Fuel Switching
- Switch from soft coal with a high sulfur content to low sulfur coal.
- Change to another fuel (natural gas).
- Limestone Injection
Can reduce sulfur emissions by 90% by mixing crushed limestone with coal before it is fed into a boiler.
University Of Palestine UNI Dr. Hasan Hamouda - Eng. Osama Othman

26. Reducing Pollution Nitrogen Oxide Control
- Best method is to prevent creation.
- Staged Burners
- Selective Catalysts
Hydrocarbon Control
- Use closed systems to prevent escape of fugitive emissions.
University Of Palestine UNI Dr. Hasan Hamouda - Eng. Osama Othman

27. CLEAN AIR LEGISLATION
- Clean Air Act (1963) - First national air pollution control.
- Clean Air Act (1970) rewrote original Act.
- Identified critical pollutants.
- Established ambient air quality standards.
- Primary Standards -Human health
- Secondary Standards - Materials, environment, aesthetic and comfort.
University Of Palestine UNI Dr. Hasan Hamouda - Eng. Osama Othman

28. Clean Air Act Revision (1990) - Included provision for: - Acid Rain
- Urban Smog
- Toxic Air Pollutants
- Ozone Protection
- Marketing Pollution Rights
- Fugitive emissions of volatile organics
- Ambient ozone, soot, and dust.
- NOx emissions
University Of Palestine UNI Dr. Hasan Hamouda - Eng. Osama Othman

29. CURRENT & FUTURE RECOMENDATIONS Assignment 2
University Of Palestine UNI Dr. Hasan Hamouda - Eng. Osama Othman