Air Pollution Sources and Monitoring Techniques

Air Pollution Sources

• Natural Sources:
  • Volcanic eruptions
  • Wildfires
  • Dust storms
  • Pollen
• Anthropogenic Sources:
  • Fossil Fuel Combustion:
    • Vehicles
    • Industrial activities
    • Power generation
  • Industrial Processes:
    • Mining
    • Smelting
    • Cement production
  • Agricultural Activities:
    • Livestock
    • Fertilizer use
    • Pesticide application
  • Waste Management:
    • Landfills
    • Incineration

Air Quality Monitoring Techniques

• Active Monitoring:
  • Sampling Methods:
    • Filter-based sampling
    • Sorbent-based sampling
    • Impactor-based sampling
  • Analytical Techniques:
    • Chromatography
    • Spectroscopy
    • Gravimetry
• Passive Monitoring:
  • Diffusive Sampling:
    • Badges
    • Tubes
  • Bioindicator Organisms:
    • Lichens
    • Mosses
    • Plants
• Remote Sensing:
  • Satellite Imagery:
    • Aerosol optical depth
    • Particulate matter concentrations
  • Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging):
    • Vertical profiles of aerosols
    • Aerosol backscatter coefficients

Air Pollution Sources

• Natural sources of air pollution include volcanic eruptions, wildfires, dust storms, and pollen.
• Anthropogenic sources of air pollution are responsible for the majority of air pollution and include:
  • Fossil fuel combustion from vehicles, industrial activities, and power generation.
  • Industrial processes such as mining, smelting, and cement production.
  • Agricultural activities including livestock, fertilizer use, and pesticide application.
  • Waste management practices like landfills and incineration.

Air Quality Monitoring Techniques

Active Monitoring

• Active monitoring involves sampling and analyzing air pollutants to determine their concentration.
• Sampling methods used in active monitoring include filter-based sampling, sorbent-based sampling, and impactor-based sampling.
• Analytical techniques used in active monitoring include chromatography, spectroscopy, and gravimetry.

Passive Monitoring

• Passive monitoring involves using devices that absorb or collect air pollutants over time to determine their concentration.
• Diffusive sampling methods used in passive monitoring include badges and tubes.
• Bioindicator organisms like lichens, mosses, and plants can also be used to monitor air pollution through passive monitoring.

Remote Sensing

• Remote sensing involves using sensors and satellites to monitor air pollution from a distance.
• Satellite imagery can be used to measure aerosol optical depth and particulate matter concentrations.
• Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) technology can be used to create vertical profiles of aerosols and measure aerosol backscatter coefficients.