2. Air Issues The Atmosphere The Grasshopper Effect Acidic Deposition Ozone Layer
3. The Atmosphere Comprised of a mixture of particles, aerosols and gases Approximately 1000 km thick Sustains life on the planet Protects us from Ultra Violet Radiation (UV) from the sun
4. The Atmosphere Green house Gases- carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. Represent a small portion of the atmosphere but regulate temperature. The layer of the atmosphere we are most concerned with is the Troposphere: Varied thickness from 9-16 km above the earths surface Where weather occurs and pollution is found
6. The Atmosphere Human activities have a profound effect on the atmosphere since the time of the Industrial Revolution in the early 1900’s Air pollution also has a large impact on peoples health (especially young children, the elderly, those with heart and respiratory conditions) Environment Canada attributes over 5000 deaths/ year to air pollution An estimated $1 billion/year are spend on hospitaladmissions, emergency room visits and absenteeism is due to air pollution (Ontario Medical Assoc., 2007)
7. The Grasshopper Effect Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)- highly toxic substances used in pesticides and industrials chemicals (i.e. PCB’s). They are insoluble by water, and stay within the environment for many years before breaking down.
8. The Grasshopper Effect A global issue in which POPs move from warmer to colder regions. The pollutants evaporate, travel through the atmosphere (on air currents), and then condense in a new location. Tend to stay in colder regions because there is less evaporation in those areas.
9. The Grasshopper Effect Less Evaporation Colder Polar Regions Temperate Regions More Evaporation Hotter Equatorial Regions
10. Air Issues Acidic Deposition Acidic pollutants can be deposited as a gas or a dust, or can be carried for thousands of Km’s to be deposited as acidic rain, snow, fog or hail
12. Air Issues Acidic Deposition 95,000 of the 700,000 lakes in South Eastern Canada are already classified as “acidic” Estimates by environment Canada (2009) state that half of the acidic precipitation in eastern Canada comes from U.S. industries The U.S. on the other hand claims that it receives 88% of their pollution (in the eastern US) from the Nantocoke generating station near Toronto.
13. The Ozone Layer Forms the stratosphere and protects us from the suns UV Radiation Human activities are upsetting the balance of this gas In 1983 it was confirmed that there was a whole in ozone (over Antarctica) In 1998 the hole measured 26 million Km’s (roughly the size of Australia) How is it being destroyed? Chloroflouorocarbons (CFCs)- once they rise into the stratosphere, they become exposed to UV radiation and release chlorine atoms A single chlorine atom can destroy thousands of molecules of ozone
14. Copy to your notes: Acidic Deposition Diagram pg 288 Effects of Acidic Deposition Chart pg 290 Effects of UV Radiation pg 294 What is the Montreal Protocol?
