7.1 & 7.2 Flashcards
Nautral or Anthropogenic
Nautral: Not caused by human activity ( wildfires/ volcanoes)
Anthropogenic: Caused by humans (Deliberate and accidental)
Anthropogenic ex-Vehicle Exhaust
Define
Pollution
The addition of a substance or agent to the environment through human activity
NO NO WORD
Sources
Point Source & Nonpoint source
Point: Orginated from one point or location ex factory water discharge
Nonpoint: Dispersed or widespread ( ex vehicle exhaust & Urban runoff
Primary and Secondary Polluntion
Primary: Air pollutant emitted from a source directly into the atmosphere (troposphere)* SO2 from coal buring or CO from cars *
Secondary: Primary pollutants that undergo chemical or physical interactions in the atmosphere in the presence of oxygen & sunlight to form new secondary pollutants Acid rain H2SO4
AQI
Used by government agencies to communicate current and forecasted air quality to the public
0-500 scale
0-50: good
51-100: moderate
101-150: Unhealthy to sensitve groups
151-200: Unhealthy
201-300: Very unhealthy
301-500: Hazardous
3 biggest Sources of Air pollutants
Combustion of fossil fuels
Transportation
Industrial & commercial facilities
Smaller one Livestock and buring of biomass
pH
pH
Acidity is measured by the pH scale based on its concentration of hydrogen ions
Percent of Hydrogen
Scale 0-6.9 Acidic
7 neutral (Natural water is here)
7.1-14 Basic
Ocean Acidification
Ocean plays huge part in Carbon cycle
As more CO2 is relaeased –> ocean water becomes more acidic (lower pH)
CO2+H2O=H2CO3 (carbonic acid)
Causes: deforestation & burning of fossil fuels
Impacts: Damage to Coral Reefs (out of range of torlance), stress or death of species
Where does normal rain fall on pH scale & why
Slightly acidic
~ pH 5.6
Dissolving of CO2 into water causes normal rain to be slightly acidic (H2CO3 - Carbonic Acid)
Acid deposition
Acid coming from compounds in the atmosphere
Wet: Rain/snow with a low pH
Dry: Ash/dry particles with a low pH
Sources
Acid Rain
Primary pollutants react with oxygen & water vapor to form acids (secondary pollutants)
- SO2: buring coal H2SO3- sulfuric acid
- NOx: buring of coal/oil in cars HNO3 Nitric Acid
pH lower than 5
Effects
Acid rain
Highly affected areas – downwind of major industrial areas or high traffic zones
- Reduce growth or kill trees
- Reduces nutrient holding abilities in soil
We can add linestone neutralize the acidic of acid rain
Soultions to Acid Rain
Altering human activity
Examples Different Engery sources ( fossil fuel change)
Less Eletrity sources
Less private transport
less low sulphur oil ( can be removed)
What will happen
Reduce CO2 emissions
Demand for power is increasing
Soulation to Acid rain
Regulating & reducing
Examples Clean-up technologies (scrub chimneys)
Catalytic converters
What will happen
Everything realting this will cost a ton of money
Soultion to Acid rain
Clean up and restoration
Examples Limited acid lakes & rivers
Repair damaged areas
Limit Forest International agreements
What will happen
restore pH levels
Affect biodiversity ( can be either way)
Treat symptoms
Hard to establish and montitor
