Air Pollution and Meteorology Course Quiz

Air Pollution and Meteorology Course (2010-1214 EPT)

• Course covers topics pertinent to air pollution, including meteorology, sources, pollutant fate/transport, air pollution effects, ambient air monitoring, pollution abatement, and regulatory models for estimating pollutant emissions.
• Meteorology is a key factor determining the scale and impact of pollutant releases.

Course Content

• Atmosphere composition and structure
• Sources and scales of air pollution
• Effects of air pollution on living and nonliving entities
• Atmospheric chemistry and photochemical smog
• Ambient air sampling, measurement, and analysis
• Air pollution monitoring
• Role of meteorology in air pollution
• Air quality criteria
• Emission and emission standards
• Stack gas sampling and analysis
• Dispersion of air pollutants
• Emission inventory
• Introduction to air pollution modeling

Course Handouts

• Provided by the instructor
• "Environmental Pollution and Control" (4th Edition) by Peirce, Vesilind, and Weiner

Student Assessment

• Quiz (4-5): 5%
• Mid Exam 1 (7-8): 15%
• Quiz (14-15): 5%
• Mid Exam 1(7-8): 15%
• Practical activities and practical exam (7-8): 15%
• Attendance/class activities/ assignments, etc (weekly): 10%
• Final Exam (17): 40%

Course Main Objective

• Provide an overview of air pollution.
• Cover topics such as air pollution meteorology, sources, pollutant fate/transport, effects, ambient monitoring, and pollution abatement.
• Present and discuss available regulatory models for estimating pollutant emissions and air concentrations.
• The course will emphasize the major influences of meteorology on the scale and magnitude of pollutant impacts.

Where to Look for Help

• Study guides
• Online helps
• Daily quizzes
• Instructor

Classroom Etiquette

• Turn off pagers and cell phones.
• Be on time.
• Take out materials you need.
• Ask the instructor questions.
• Attendance is mandatory.

Lecture (1): The Atmosphere and Its Composition

• The atmosphere is a layer of gases surrounding Earth, primarily oxygen and nitrogen, which protects and supports life.
• Functions: Protection (shielding from harmful solar radiation), Regulation (maintaining Earth's temperature), and Support (providing air and water cycles).
• The structure of the atmosphere is discussed, including characteristics of different layers.

Atmosphere Composition

• Introduction to atmospheric structure
• Gaseous composition of the atmosphere.
• Gases, droplets, and particles surrounding Earth's surface

Relevant Terms

• Atmosphere: Gases, droplets, and particles surrounding Earth's surface.

• Weather: Atmospheric conditions at a specific time and place. -Temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, visibility

• Climate: Long-term weather patterns and averages over time

• Climatology: scientific study of climate

• Homosphere: The lowest 80 km of the atmosphere. Relative abundance of permanent gases is constant.

• Heterosphere: Higher atmosphere. Gases not well mixed; stratified by weight. Lighter-weighing gases are found here.

Composition of the atmosphere:

• Permanent gases:

  • Nitrogen (N₂): 78.08% (by volume)
  • Oxygen (O₂): 20.95% (by volume)
  • Argon (Ar): 0.93% (by volume)

• Variable gases:

  • Water Vapor (H₂O)
  • Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)
  • Ozone (O₃)

• Aerosols: Small solid particles or liquid droplets in the air, formed by natural and anthropogenic processes

  • Dust, smoke, volcanic ash

• Composition of Atmosphere Near Earth's surface

• Table 3.2 (page 44)

Vertical Structure of the Atmosphere

• The atmosphere consists of several distinct layers with unique characteristics
  • Troposphere
  • Stratosphere
  • Mesosphere
  • Thermosphere
  • Exosphere

Atmosphere Pressure

• Atmospheric pressure is the weight of air above a given point. It decreases with altitude.

• Ozone layer: A crucial part of the stratosphere, found approximately 10 to 30 kilometers above the Earth's surface. Ozone (O3) molecules absorb and scatter ultraviolet solar radiation.

Importance of the Ozone Layer

• UV radiation protection
  • Absorbs most of the Sun's harmful UV radiation
  • Protects humans, animals, and plants from the damaging effects of UV radiation
• Environmental balance
  • Maintains the balance of ecosystems
  • Protects biodiversity

Ozone Depletion and Causes

• Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs): Man-made chemicals once used in refrigerants, air conditioning, and aerosols
• Halons: used in fire extinguishers
• Other chemicals: Impact ozone depletion

Other Atmospheric Layers

• Troposphere: Extends up to 8-15 km, contains most atmospheric mass, weather phenomena, and clouds. Temperature decreases with altitude.

• Stratosphere: Extends up to about 50 km, contains the ozone layer, which absorbs UV radiation, Temperature increases with altitude.

• Mesosphere: Extends up to about 85 km, the coldest layer of the atmosphere, meteors burn up here. Temperature decreases with altitude.

• Thermosphere: Extends up to about 600 km, temperature increases significantly with altitude, contains the ionosphere reflecting radio waves.

• Exosphere: Extends up to about 10,000 km, outermost layer, atmospheric particles sparse

• Summary: Divisions of the atmosphere by temperature characteristics.