Atmospheric Science Quiz

Course Information

• Course Title: Environmental Science and Engineering with Safety (ENS 195)
• Instructor: Anthony O. Maputi, M.Sc.
• Department: Chemical Engineering and Technology
• University: MSU-ILIGAN Institute of Technology

Lesson 6: Introduction to Air Pollution and Management

• The lesson focuses on introducing air pollution and its management.

Lesson 5: Things to Know

• Topics include: Air Environment, Development and Air Pollution, Basic Terminologies, Types of Air Pollutants, Sources of Air Pollutants, Measurement Units and Averaging Time, and Asian and Global Air Pollution Status.

Atmosphere

• The atmosphere is a critical system that regulates Earth's climate.
• In conjunction with oceans, it shapes climate and weather patterns, making some regions habitable than others.

Air Environment

• Troposphere: (8-12 km) Heated from the Earth's surface, warmest near the bottom, gets colder with altitude.
• Stratosphere: Heated from the top (ozone layer), absorbs incoming UV radiation.
• Mesosphere: Temperature decreases with height. Part of the exosphere, where light H₂ and He escape to space.
• Thermosphere: No defined upper limit, high temperatures due to solar radiation absorption by N₂ and O₂ molecules.

Clean Air Composition

• Nitrogen (79%) and Oxygen (21%) are the primary gases.
• Other gases have varying percentages and residence times, including Argon, water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen, nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, CFCs, peroxyacetylnitrate and volatile organic compounds.

Roles of the Atmosphere

• Supply oxygen for respiration
• Transport heat and water (water cycle, heat transfer)
• Waste disposal medium
• Filter solar radiation, absorbing harmful UV-B radiation

Atmospheric Processes and Air Pollution

• Pollutants' sources, transport, transformation, deposition, and effects are explained using a diagram.

Factors Affecting Air Pollution at a Location

• Emission: Sources (natural vs. man-made), degree of control/management.
• Meteorology: Transport/diffusion (air pollution dilution), Transformation (secondary air pollution), Sink (wet and dry removal).
• Topography: Affects dispersion and sink/deposition.

Environmental Kuznet's Curve (EKC)

• Curve showing relationship between income per capita and environmental degradation.
• Turning points depict when pollution starts to decrease with rising income.

Motorcycle Pollution Benefits - Acting Sooner

• Graph showing the benefits of early pollution control measures.

Kuznet Curve: Impact of Development

• Shows stages of air pollution (AP) concentration related to level of development.
• Stages include Initial emission control, Stabilization of air quality, Improvement of air quality, and High technology applied.

Definitions

• Air Contaminants: All materials in air except clean composition.
• Air Pollutants: Contaminants causing harmful effects.
• Air Pollution: Presence of substances in outdoor/indoor air that have measurable harmful effects for humans, animals, plants, or other materials.

Definitions: Air Pollution Episodes

• High pollutant concentrations coincide with stagnant air causing increased respiratory illnesses and mortality in densely populated areas.
• Examples of air pollution episodes include London sulfurous smog (winter type), Los Angeles photochemical smog (summer type), and Indonesian forest fires (1997 – fine PM).

Air Pollution Episodes: Very High Pollutant Conc

• Historical examples (e.g., London killer smog).
• Importance of studying air pollution (identification/predictions, controls, epidemiological studies, health impact studies) .

Air Pollution Episodes: Meuse Valley 1930

• Description of the 1930 Meuse Valley air pollution event.
• High concentration of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) led to severe health problems and deaths.

Air Pollution Episodes: Poza Rica de Hidalgo 1950

• Description of the 1950 hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) air pollution disaster.
• Low-altitude temperature inversion trapped the gas.
• Death toll and hospitalisations.

Types of Air Pollutants

• By Generation (natural vs. man-made) and state (gaseous, particulate, etc.).
• Pollutants, like CO, NOx, SO₂, VOCs, PMs, heavy metals, and other substances.

Common Classification: Major vs Hazardous AP

• Major pollutants, like PM, SO₂, NO₂, CO, and ozone.
• Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAP), that include Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and heavy metals.

Common Atmospheric Pollutants

• Detailed properties, sources, effects, and typical composition (e.g. CO, CO₂, NOx, SO₂, VOCs, aerosols) of pollutants.

General Classification of Gaseous Pollutants

• Primary pollutants (formed directly from sources) vs Secondary (formed from reactions in the air).
• Example pollutants in each category.

Particulate Matter (PM)

• Most significant in terms of health effects, especially in developing countries.
• Primary and secondary particles, and the importance of particle size.

Fine Particle (PM2.5)

• Particulate matter with a diameter equal or less than 2.5 micrometers.
• Significant health implications due to the ability to penetrate deep into lungs.

Particle Sizes and Terminologies

• Size classification of particulate matter (PM) by diameter.
• Types of particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5, ultrafines, nanoparticles).

Mass Distribution of Ambient Particles

• Different modes in atmospheric particle size distribution (coarse particle, TSP, fine particle, primary PM, secondary PM).

Black Carbon (BC) and Organic Carbon (OC)

• Categories and light-absorbing properties.

Sulfur Oxides

• Formed from the combustion of sulfur-containing fuels.
• Major effects include acid precursor formation, respiratory problems, eye damage, and damage to plants and water sources.

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)

• Formed from high-temperature combustion of fuel in cars.
• Effects include acid precursor formation, respiratory problems.

Tropospheric Ozone

• Formed from NOx and VOCs in the presence of sunlight.
• Major constituent of photochemical smog.
• Affects respiratory tract and causes eye irritation. Harms plants, buildings and other materials.

Carbon Monoxide

• Formed from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels.
• Disrupts oxygen supply in body tissues.

Combustion: Main Sources of Air Pollution

• Sources of air pollution through combustion processes (power production, industrial processes, transportation, buildings) are clarified with percentages given

Combustion Air Pollutant Formation

• Formation of pollutants from complete and incomplete combustion and from additional sources, such as non-hydrocarbon materials (non-HC).

Sources of Manmade Emission (Emission Inventory)

• Examples of emission inventories for Thailand and the USA.

Industrial Facilities Contribute to Air Pollution

• Industrial sources such as refineries, coal-fired power plants, cement plants, and brick kilns are important contributors to air pollution.

Biomass Open Burning

• Image(s) depicting biomass open burning (e.g., in forests, fields).

Household Emission

• Significant contribution of household activities to indoor air pollution sources and its impact.

Mobile Sources

• Mobile sources like vehicles, trucks, buses contribute over 60-80% of urban air pollution in developing countries.

Natural Sources

• Natural air pollutants like volcanoes, dust storms, and pollen.

Man-made vs Natural Sources

• Man-made pollution, although comprising a smaller percentage of overall pollution, creates a significant environmental imbalance .

Global Aerosol Emission Flux: Natural vs Anthropogenic

• Quantification of natural and anthropogenic sources of aerosols.

Measurement Units and Averaging Time

• Units and averaging times (e.g., µg/m3, ppm, ppb) used for measuring various pollutants.
• How averaging time affects measurement results.

Standard Temperature and Pressure

• Defining STP and USEPA standard conditions for ambient air and emissions.

General Formula for Unit Conversion

• Formulas for converting between different air pollutant concentration units.

Correction of Gas Volume for Temp and Pressure

• Formula use to correct for gas volume variations .

Temperature Units and Conversion

• Converting between temperature scales (Celsius, Fahrenheit, Kelvin).

Averaging Time Affecting Measurement Results

• Why averaging time affects pollutant measurements (variations in sources, meteorology, dispersion).
• Importance of indicating the averaging period used when measuring air quality.

Averaging Time Effects on AP Concentration

• Illustration of the impact of averaging period on measurements.

Conversion Factors

• Conversion factors for different averaging periods used with industrial source air emission data.

Averaging Time of Ambient Air Quality Standard

• Importance of different averaging times in establishing standards
• Using averaging time for assessment of pollutants exposure

Asian and Global Air Pollution Status

• Shows the relation between urban, rural and total populations with time.
• The increasing trends in urban population over time.

Status & Trends in Urban Ambient Air Pollution

• Summary of trends for developed vs. developing countries for various air pollutants.

Air Pollution in Asia: Highlights

• Significant details of pollution status and trends in Asia.

Sources of AP in Asian Developing Countries

• Main sources of air pollution in Asian developing counties (road traffic, stationary sources, and domestic and commercial fuel burning) and other significant sources like biomass and refuse burning.

Major Air Pollution Problems around the World

• Problems and details of world air pollution (e.g., major episodes, cooking and heating with solid fuels, and climate change)

Major Air Pollution Problems around the World / PM2.5 Episode

• Data associated to PM2.5 episodes, including pie charts that show sources and percentage.

Major Air Pollution Problems around the World / Climate Change

• Environmental concerns and impacts of air pollution on climate change and global population.

Chapter Problems

• Practice problems related to air pollutant concentration, factors affecting concentration, conversions, impact of averaging time.

Test your knowledge on various aspects of the atmosphere, including its composition, role in climate, and air quality standards. This quiz covers essential concepts related to oxygen, ozone, and temperature effects on Earth's atmosphere. Perfect for students of environmental science or anyone interested in learning more about our air quality.