Categories
Questions from category Air Quality:
· What is baseline air quality?
· What is the difference between pollution ozone and the protective ozone layer?
· What is meant by the "cleansing capacity" of the atmosphere?
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What is baseline air quality? The impact of gases and particles produced by human activity
may be felt long distances from where the pollutants are released. Even
at remote locations, typified by the ESRL/GMD observatories in Hawaii and
Alaska, episodes of elevated amounts of gases such as carbon monoxide
and ozone, and particles of dust and soot are periodically encountered.
When long-range transport of these pollutants carries them to the continental
U.S. they may compound the deterioration of air quality caused by local
sources of pollution. Phenomena such as Asian dust episodes and Arctic
haze are examples of the long-range transport of pollution seen at Mauna
Loa, Hawaii and Barrow, Alaska.
Mauna Loa, Hawaii on a clear day
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Mauna Loa, Hawaii on a dusty day
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What is the difference between pollution ozone and the protective ozone layer? Ozone in the upper atmosphere (primarily above about 15 km) is formed
naturally by the Sun's radiation interacting with oxygen molecules. This
naturally occurring ozone screens the Earth's surface from much of the
damaging ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. However, in the lower atmosphere
pollutants, primarily related to the use of fossil fuels, combine with
sunlight to form ozone often referred to as smog. High ozone amounts near
the ground are detrimental to human health, reduce crop yields and lead
to the deterioration of materials such as rubber.
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What is meant by the "cleansing capacity" of the atmosphere? The ability of the atmosphere to cleanse itself of many of the compounds
emitted by human activity is controlled by a trace constituent called the
hydroxol radical (OH). This is often referred to as the "cleansing
capacity" of the atmosphere. The hydroxol radical can be thought of
as the atmospheric "detergent". Carbon monoxide levels primarily
control the global abundance of this cleaning agent. Global increases in
carbon monoxide may thus reduce the atmosphere's ability to rid itself of
pollution.
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