Chapter 9: Climate and Air Pollution

Adjacent earths surface (Air circulates in convection currents) Much denser than other layers due to gravity (75% of total mass) 8-18 km thick depending on location

End of tropopause - 50 km has no water vapor 1000X more Ozone Absorbs solar radiation- warms the top little mixing

Between stratosphere and thermosphere middle layer- gets colder

50 km and up....no sharp boundary marks the end ~Area of highly ionized gases. heated by solar ~energy and cosmic radiation ~sometimes they glow- aurora

N2 (78%) O2 (21%) Ar, CO2 and water vapor

Released in a harmful form become hazardous when interacting with air

Point- emissions from a smokestack Fugitive- dust from soil erosion, strip mining, rock crushing

Group of seven major pollutants that contribute the largest volume of air-qulaity degredation SO2, NOx, CO, particulate, volatile organic compounds, Ozone, lead

Produced less in volume than primary, but still cause for concern Asbestos, Benzene, Mercury, etc no natural source- made from humans

Becomes SO3, reacts with water vapor- becomes acid rain

Nitrogren and Oxygen- nitric oxide, then to NO2 A reddish brown gas = smog

Produced by incomplete combustion (in cars) inhibits respiration in animals

Dust, ash, soot, lint, smoke, pollen reduce visibility and dirty windows

Organic gases, plants, bogs, termites- produce these compounds Hydrocarbons are oxidized to CO and CO2

Products of secondary atmospheric reactions driven by solar energy Split N02 atomic O reacts with another 02, making ozone or 03 ***Ozone is important in stratopshere, in ambient air is it highly reactive and damages vegetation, animal tissues, and even buildings