Urban Air Quality

Question 1

Particulate pollution in urban areas

Answer 1

Particulates are tiny pieces of solids and tiny droplets of liquids floating in the air. More particulates are found in urban areas than rural

Question 2

Sources of particulates

Answer 2

Vehicle exhausts - 80% of fine particulates in urban areas
Burning of cigarettes and fuel
Construction and mining
Plants and moulds

Question 3

Photochemical Smog

Answer 3

Pollutants such as hydrocarbons come from burning fossil fuels. When these pollutants come into contact with sunlight the UV light causes them to break down into harmful chemicals eg ozone that form photochemical smog. More common in places with hotter climates eg Mexico City and LA. Related to health and respiratory problems

Question 4

Ways to reduce air pollution - CONGESTION CHARGING

Answer 4

People are charged if they use their vehicles in certain places at certain times. Reduces pollution by reducing road traffic. In Central London congestion charge reduced traffic and emissions in the zone by around 15% in the first year. However some people drive around the edge of the zone to avoid charges increasing traffic here

Question 5

Ways to reduce air pollution - PEDESTRIANISATION

Answer 5

Vehicles are restricted from netering areas at certain times and many cities are pedestrianised like London Manchester and Liverpool. This causes less traffic and emissions but some shops may get fewer customers.

Question 6

Ways to reduce air pollution - PUBLIC TRANSPORT IMPROVEMENTS

Answer 6

Improved bus services like bus lanes
Park and ride schemes
Railway services - eg the metrolink in Manchester opened in 1992 linking city centre to suburbs and has been very successful
Encouraging use of public transport rather than cars reduces pollution

Question 7

Ways to reduce air pollution - CAR BANS AND CAR SHARING

Answer 7

In Mexico City, drivers are banned from using their cars one weekday per week but some richer resdients get around this by buying two cars

Birmingham, Bristol and London have council-run car sharing schemes to encourage people making the same journey to share the same car.

Question 8

Ways to reduce air pollution - LEGISLATIONS

Answer 8

The UK clean air acts of 1956 and 1968 reduced domestic pollution by introducing smoke control areas where only smokeless fuels could be burned and reduced industrial pollution

Question 9

Ways to reduce air pollution - ALTERNATIVE FUELS

Answer 9

Petrol and diesel are replaced with cleaner fuels that pollute less eg biofuels, LPG, electric vehicles all have lower emissions.