AIR POLLUTION
ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
What is Thermal pollution and how does it affect
living organisms?
OBJECTIVES
Define air pollution.
List examples of types and sources of air pollution.
Name and explain four major effects of air pollution
on the atmosphere.
Discuss four solutions to reduce the effects of air
pollution.
AIR POLLUTION
Releasing harmful substances into the air that
make it unfit for life
Burning Fossil Fuels (coal, oil,
natural gas) releases Greenhouse
gases
Leads to:
-Global Warming
-Ozone Depletion
-Acid Rain
-Smog
Major Greenhouse
Gases
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Methane (CH4)
Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
Ozone (O3)
GLOBAL WARMING
Suns rays strike earth and turn to
heat energyGREENHOUSE GASES
form a barrier that wont let heat
out = GREENHOUSE EFFECT
GREENHOUSE EFFECT = GLOBAL
WARMING (slow increase in
Earths average temperature)
Ozone Depletion
The ozone is a thin layer that protects the earth
from excessive harmful UV radiation from the sun
Ozone Depletion
CFC's (chloroflurocarbons)
are in human manufactured
products (aerosol,
refrigerants, styrofoam)
CFC pollution = destruction
of ozone shield
Consequences:
Increase in skin cancer
Disruptions of food chains
on all levels
Acid Rain
Pollution can travel hundreds
of miles and effect places far
from industries
Caused by pollution from cars and
factories
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is the main
component
Acid rains
NEGATIVE impacts
include:
Acidification of
lakes, streams,
rivers, etc.
Decrease in
biodiversity
Increased rate of
deterioration of
monuments
Aquatic life unable
to grow due to
acidification of lake
Statue being
destroyed due to
chemical weathering
SMOG
Toxic pollutants +
sunlight = SMOG
Gray or brown cloud that
hangs in the air (usually
over cities)
Ways to Reduce Air
Pollution
1. Use fuels which contain less
pollutants, such as low sulfur coal and
oil.
2. Utilize industrial or energy producing
processes which minimize the creation of
pollutants.
3. Remove pollutants by using such
devices as afterburners or catalytic
converters before they enter the air.
4. Design new products which meet basic
needs without generating pollution.
Review
1. What is the major component of acid rain?
2. How does acid rain effect ecosystems hundreds of
miles away?
3. How has Industrialization affected the earths
ecosystems?
ANS 1- Sulfur dioxide from pollution causes acid rain
ANS 2- The pollution is carried with weather systems for
miles before it returns to the earth with the precipitation.
ANS 3- Industrialization has increased the rate at which
pollution is effecting our environment.
POP QUIZ
Match the following molecule with its effect:
a. CFC's
b. CO2
c. SO2
1. greenhouse effect
2. acid rain
3. ozone depletion
Review
1. Which gas do scientists believe is most
responsible for global warming?
2. Where does CO2 come from?
3. What do CFC's cause?
4. How is the world trying to decrease its CO2
emissions?
PROBLEM
CAUSE
EFFECT
SOLUTION
GLOBAL
WARMING
Burning fossil fuels
that release
greenhouse gases
Slowly changes
the earths
average
temperature.
Changes weather
and habitats,
decreases
biodiversity
Burn less fossil
fuels, carpool,
use alternative
energy sources
ACID RAIN
Burning fossil fuels
gives off sulfur
dioxide
Acid rain falls to
earth, changing
acidity of water
bodies and soil,
killing organisms
Burn less fossil
fuels, use
alternative
energy sources,
burn coal that
has less sulfur
in it
THERMAL
POLLUTION
Factories dump
warm water into
water bodies
High temps=less
Oxygen, all
organisms
suffocate
Let water cool
before dumping,
re-use cooled
water
DESTRUCTION Deforestation, fires,
Loss of
OF HABITATS
farming,
species/biodiversi
Reforestation,
conservation of
PROBLEM
CAUSE
EFFECT
SOLUTION
WATER
POLLUTION
Dumping
wastes,
Deforestation
Species die,
Eutrophication
(lack of oxygen
in the water)
Laws against
dumping wastes
OZONE
DEPLETION
CFCs being
released break
apart the ozone
molecules
Leaves a big hole
Ban CFCs,
in the ozone
Recycle/recaptur
layer, more
e any CFCs
cancer and
leftover in AC
mutations in
units,
organisms,
refrigerators, or
disruption of food cars AC systems.
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