Environmental Quality and Air Pollution

People, Resources, and Environmental Quality

• Human activities significantly impact the environment
• Air and climate change is a major concern

Air and Climate Change

• Air pollution is the presence of chemicals, liquids, or solids in the atmosphere, harming humans and the climate.
• Primary air pollutants enter the atmosphere directly from human activity or natural processes.
• Secondary pollutants are formed when primary air pollutants react with one another or natural compounds in the atmosphere.
• Major sources of outdoor air pollutants include transportation, fuel combustion, and industrial processes.
• Major outdoor air pollution problems include industrial smog, photochemical smog, and acid deposition.
• Industrial smog primarily results from the burning of coal, including sulfur dioxide, suspended sulfuric acid droplets, and solid particles.
• Photochemical smog occurs when motor vehicle and industrial emissions react in the presence of UV radiation, producing a mixture of primary and secondary pollutants.
• Acid deposition is formed when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react with atmospheric moisture to create droplets of sulfuric acid and nitric acid, falling to earth in rain or snow.
• Indoor air pollution involves various chemicals and particles within homes, potentially causing health issues.
  • Sources in a house can include formaldehyde, para-dichlorobenzene, and radon.
  • Activities like cooking or using a kerosene heater or woodstoves can release nitrogen oxides and particulates.

Causes and Effects of Climate Change

• Weather refers to atmospheric conditions at a specific time and place, including temperature, pressure, precipitation, cloudiness, humidity, and wind.
• Climate is the typical weather pattern for a location over several decades, considering temperature patterns and precipitation amounts.
• Climate change is long-term shifts in temperatures and weather, which are partially caused by human activity, primarily burning fossil fuels.
• The greenhouse effect is a natural process where atmospheric gases (greenhouse gases, GHGs) trap heat, keeping the Earth warm.
• Major GHGs include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and halocarbons.
• Solar radiation warms the Earth and drives biogeochemical cycles through photosynthesis.

Milankovitch Cycles

• Earth's orbit and axis tilt change over varying periods.
  • Orbital stretch and shortening: 100,000 years
  • Axial tilt variation: 41,000 years
  • Axial wobble: 26,000 years

Dealing with Air Pollution

• Laws and regulations exist that help control air pollution, including Republic Act 8749 (Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999).
• Methods to control pollutants include strategies for reducing or dispersing emissions from stationary and mobile sources, such as:
  • Switching to coal with lower sulfur content.
  • Using tall smokestacks.
  • Improving vehicle fuel efficiency.
  • Implementing stricter emission standards.
• Individuals can reduce their daily contribution to pollution by various actions
  • Reduce garbage and recycle more frequently.
  • Using energy-efficient appliances and using LED light bulbs.
  • Close window curtains to retain heat in the house or use low-flow showerheads.
  • Using alternative transportation, such as walking, biking, or public transport.

Dealing with Global Climate Change

• The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming by keeping temperature increase below 2 degrees Celsius.
• Mitigation strategies attempt to slow global warming rates by substituting fossil fuels, and promoting energy efficiency.
• Adaptation strategies manage the effects of climate change's impacts on society, including rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and temperature changes.

This quiz explores the significant impacts of human activities on the environment, focusing on air pollution and climate change. Key concepts include primary and secondary air pollutants, sources of outdoor air pollution, and specific issues like industrial and photochemical smog. Test your understanding of these critical environmental topics.