Week 13: The Atmosphere Pt 1

Week 13: The Atmosphere Pt 1

By Kate Polivka

​Aside from providing us with the gasses needed for life, the atmosphere also:

• Blocks UV radiation

• Moderates the climate

• Redistributes water vapor through the hydrologic cycle​

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​Our Atmosphere

​https://youtu.be/xEodej_M7TI

These are the harmful substances emitted DIRECTLY into the atmosphere

• ​Hydrocarbons

• Ni​trogen oxides, sulfur oxides, carbon oxides

• ​Hazardous air pollutants

• Particulate matter​

Primary Pollutants

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​These harmful substances form when primary pollutants and natural gasses in the atmosphere react

• Sulfuric acid

• Ozone​

​​Secondary Pollutants

Nitrogen oxides (NO_x)- Released into the atmosphere through burning of fossil fuels and natural processes.

• Cause difficulty breathing

• React in the atmosphere to form secondary pollutants including nitric acid and ozone​

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​Primary Pollutants

Sulfur oxides- React in the atmosphere to form sulfuric acid (acid rain). The trees in the picture show the effects of acid rain on plant life.

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Carbon oxides- Two forms

• Carbon monoxide (toxic gas)

• Carbon dioxide (greenhouse gas)​

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Primary Pollutants

Hydrocarbons- Molecules such as methane and benzene​​

• Can cause a variety of health effects including injury to respiratory tract and cancer.

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​Air Particulates- Small particles that float in the air

• Dust, asbestos, viruses, etc

• can cause health issues such as cancer and damage lungs and arteries​

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​Primary Pollutants

Multiple Choice

What type of atmospheric pollution are emitted directly into the atmosphere?

• Primary pollutants

• Major pollutants

• Secondary pollutants

• Stationary pollutants

Multiple Choice

Greenhouse gasses such as methane (CH4) are what type of primary pollutant?

• Nitrogen oxides

• Particulate matter

• Hydrocarbon

• Carbon oxides

Multiple Choice

Primary pollutants cause....

• Adverse health issues

• Global warming

• Damage to terrestrial life

• All of these are correct

Produced when sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides react with water vapor producing acid rain

• Sulfuric acid

• Nitric acid​

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Acids

Ozone is produced naturally in the high in the stratosphere but is harmful when produced near the ground

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Recipe:

NO_x + Hydrocarbons + Sunlight

Ozone

Major Secondary Pollutants​

​https://youtu.be/THYoUULn_2U

​https://youtu.be/1PDjVDIrFec

Multiple Choice

Which is NOT an attribute of ozone

• A secondary pollutant

• Made from hydrocarbons, nitrous oxides, and sunlight

• Blocks UV radiation when in the stratosphere

• Beneficial to humans in the troposphere

Open Ended

What are some ways that nitric and sulfuric acids (acid rain) are harmful? List at least two.