Chapter 7 Atmosphere 1

CH# 7: THE ATMOSPHERE AND HUMAN ACTIVITIES

Introduction
 The atmosphere is an envelope of gases wrapped around the Earth.
 97% of the atmospheric mass is within 30 km of the surface.
 Atmospheric pressure decreases with height.
 Troposphere and stratosphere are two major layers which are identified by temperature
characteristics.
 The troposphere is the lower layer.
 Troposphere contains most of the atmosphere‘s water vapours, cloud, dust and
pollution.
 The Earth’s cloud and weather systems are concentrated in troposphere.
 Stratosphere is dust free and cloudless.
 There is little carbon dioxide and water vapour in Stratosphere.
Composition of the atmosphere
 Nitrogen and Oxygen make up 99% of the atmosphere by volume.
 Nitrogen 78%
 Oxygen 21%
 Argon 0.93%
 Carbon dioxide 0.03%

Energy resources
 Sun is the source of all energy on the planet.
 Sunlight is a radiation (a wave that enters the atmosphere of the Earth).
 Some of it absorbed gases and surface and some is reflected by clouds, surface and
some gases.
 The amount of solar energy reaching the surface of the Earth that is available as heat is
known as Insolation
 Rates of insolation vary, it is highest at the equator and lowest at the poles.
 Albedo means that a high proportion of the sun’s light is reflected of being absorbed.
 80% of light that reaches the surface is reflected back from snow covered surfaces.
 Dry surface air is dominated by only two gases, nitrogen and oxygen
 Carbon dioxide is soaked up by plants for photosynthesis

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 The ozone is concentrated in the stratosphere where many of the cancer inducing
ultraviolet rays, which would otherwise harm plants, animals and humans are absorbed
by it
 Water vapour and carbon dioxide absorb most strongly in the long wavelengths,
therefore they mainly trap heat radiation from the land rather than light radiation from
the sun that phenomenon is known as Greenhouse effect.

Atmospheric pollution: causes and impacts

Causes of atmospheric pollution

 Burning fossil fuels in power stations and exhaust from cars, trucks and buses
 Waste burnt from chemical factories and other industries
 Bare soil in agricultural areas picked up and carried by wind
 Use of chemical, especially CFCs and halons

Impacts of atmospheric pollution

 Reduced visibility(haze, mist, fog and smog)
 Formation of acid rain
 Heath problems such as asthma
 Depletion of the ozone layer
 Increases ultraviolet radiation
 Health problems such as asthma
 Increase risk of cancers in people
 Increasing acidity in soils reducing crops yields and killing trees
 Increased acidity in lakes leading to death of fish
 Trapping more heat leading to global warming ,hence, rising sea levels and temperature of
the earth
 Less transpiration so less precipitation due to less cloud formation leading to droughts
, hence, less crop yield and food supply

Smog: causes and impacts

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 Smog is a combination of smoke and fog

 It is always likely to be more of a problem in urban areas
 Traffic emissions are source of gases and unburnt hydrocarbons as well smoke partials
 When temperatures are high and there is strong sunlight, a photochemical reaction
occurs which makes it even more unpleasant for city people
 The chemical soup from car exhausts .especially nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons, can
produce high levels of ground ozone
 When ozone presents in the lower atmosphere it irritates the bronchial passage lungs
and eyes
Physical characteristics that make pollutants hung around in the atmosphere
There are certain Physical characteristics that make pollutants hung around in the
atmosphere instead of dispersing quickly
 Pollutants are trapped by the surrounding high ground.
 The climate is hot ,dry and sunny for at least half of the year, as the pressure is high the
air sinks
 Without rain and wind to clear them smoke and dust particles are left to accumulate in
the lower atmosphere close to the ground
What is meant by inversion of temperature?
When temperatures increase with height above the ground is known as inversion of

temperature
Where and when an inversion of temperature most likely to occur?
An inversion of temperature making it less likely that pollutants can escape from the
lower layers of the atmosphere .It is normal for temperatures to be highest at the
surface and drop an average of 1 C for every 150 meters of height. In an inversion
temperatures increase with height above the ground. When the air above is warmer, air
from below is unable to rise.
Therefore, none of the pollutants are dispersed to higher levels in the
atmosphere.Indtead they are left to accumulate as a brownish yellow haze below the
inversion.

Smog: Strategies to improve urban air quality

 Catalytic converters in cars should be fitted to reduce air pollution

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 Petrol and diesel should be replaced with other fuel gases

 Cars can be banned from entering the city on high smog days according to registration
plate numbers
 Natural gas power stations should be used instead of coal power stations
 Use of alternative energy sources such as HEP should be increase
 Increased planting of trees
 Improve public transport

Acid rain: causes and impacts

Causes of acid rain
 Caused by increased acidity in atmosphere that comes from sulpher dioxide and oxides of
Nitrogen
 Vehicles, power stations and industries are main sources.
 Can be transported from one place to another through winds

Impacts of acid rain

 Increase levels of acidity in soils
 Increased crop destruction
 Destruction of forests and wildlife habitants
 Soil erosion due to loss of trees
 Trees lose leaves easily and also become less resistant to droughts increased acidity of
lakes ,hence, death of marine organisms
 Acid rain is a major problem in Scandinavian countries(Norway and Sweden) because
prevailing westerly winds carry the oxides of sulphur and nitrogen from the Uk’s coal fired
power stations
 Caused of bronchitis and lung cancer
 Some of the world’s best buildings are rotting away in the acid atmospheres

Acid rain: Strategies to reduce its impacts

 Add limestone in powered forms on lakes to increase PH value(decrease acidity)

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 Limestone should be used in coal power stations to convert sulphur dioxide into calcium
sulphate before it leaves from the chimney and oxides of nitrogen should be reduced by
using ammonia. This process is known as desulphurization(FGD)
 Natural gas power stations should be used instead of coal power stations
 Use of alternative energy sources

Ozone layer depletion

Causes

 Release of CFC’s and HALONS in atmosphere.

 Use of chemicals containing CFC’s such as hair sprays
 Chlorine destroys the layer by converting ozone into oxygen
 These chemicals are persist in the atmosphere for long time, this enable them to reach the
ozone layer without being destroyed

Impacts

 Increased amount of ultraviolet rays reaching surface that result into skin cancers

Ozone depletion: Strategies for Ozone recovery

 Many governments signed up to an international agreement called Montreal Protocol in 1987
 They made pledges for rapid reduction in the use of CFC’s and halons and to stop using those 2000.

Enhanced greenhouse effect

Causes
 Increase in greenhouse gases in atmosphere
 These gases include CO2 released by burning of fossil fuels, wood and due to deforestation
 Methane due to deforestation and decomposition of waste
 CFC’S from different chemicals
 Oxides of nitrogen from transport system, burning of fuels and use of fertilizers

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 These gases trap heat energy of the sun and does not let radiation emitted from surface
escape

Impacts

 Increase in the temperature of the earth leading to melting of ice sheets ,this results in
rising sea levels
 This will lead to flooding in low lying coastal areas
 Sea defenses would be breached
 Populated areas would no longer be able to live in their habitants

Strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

 Tree plantation
 Alternative sources of energy
 Energy conservation measures
 Ban on use of CFC’c in aerosols and fridges

Managing atmospheric pollution

 Reduction of carbon footprint
 Reduced use of fossil fuels
 Energy efficiency
 Carbon capture and storage
 Transport policies
 International agreement and policies
 CFC replacement
 Catalytic converters
 Flue gas desulphurization
 Taxation

 Reforestation and afforestation

Past Papers Questions

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Q. Explain the problems that government have in implementing strategies to

reduce air pollution in cities.

An. difficulty of monitoring; problems catching offenders/weak law enforcement; cost

implications; people difficult to convince/citizens ignore; not a priority; inadequate
legislation; businesses put pressure on governments;
Q. Why are there big differences in carbon dioxide emissions per person between
different countries of the world?

Ans. most carbon dioxide emissions come from burning fossil fuels, fossil fuels most
used in
transport, electricity, and manufacturing industry, much higher individual / domestic
levels of consumption among richer people, whereas in poor countries fossil fuel use is
not always a part of people's everyday lives, more work done manually in farming and
industry, more limited access to electricity and private means of transport, waste of
energy etc. more likely in developed world
Ethiopia is a poor country in sub-Saharan Africa with many subsistence farmers
Q. Why some countries are more worried about the effects of global warming
than others?
Ans. in some cases it depends on location – low lying island countries in the Pacific and
Indian Oceans, such as the Maldives, or delta countries such as Bangladesh and the
Netherlands, are at greatest risk of coastal flooding, whereas higher or landlocked
countries will be unaffected; matters less in big countries than small countries
it is also depends on climate type – more difficult / marginal climates for people to make
a living such as savanna and monsoon, where many people rely upon the wet season
rains; areas naturally prone to flood and drought such as those near the edges of
deserts, or tropical storms, may find natural disasters more frequent / more intense
poverty / wealth of a country also relevant – rich countries better able to prepare and
repair, poor countries have more people trapped in the poverty cycle; less chance to
recover before being affected by the next adverse climatic event
Q. Describe the significant of increases in the use of all types of alternative
energy sources for world.

Ans. life expectancies of fossil fuels, increasing and high oil prices, but at the same time
some reluctance to give up dependence on fossil fuels, which are so useful especially in
transport; will the push to move away from fossil fuels be stronger than it is now?
optimistic or otherwise about research and development into new and cheaper ways to
harness natural sources, about humans ability to innovate, and create new technology,
especially as there is likely to be more pressure to do so pressure from green
organizations, perhaps noticeably worsening effects of climate change, perhaps
international summits which actually agree on meaningful carbon emissions reductions
the ease and inertia of using fossil fuels cannot be overcome; there may be big oil and
gas finds in polar lands which ease the pressure to change .
Q. Describe some social economic changes in Arabia resulting from the

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discovery and extraction of oil.

Ans. Effects can be positive/beneficial, or negative/disadvantages.

Positive effects – mainly economic; they include work on the oil wells and in the
refineries, likely to be much better paid; can live in one place instead of the nomadic
desert existence. Urban living with all the modern conveniences and less exposed to
natural conditions and changes.

Negative effects – some economic because land traditionally used and crossed over
by them is being taken away for irrigated farming and oil. Migration with animals made
more difficult by pipelines crossing the desert. Social – disruption caused by migrations
of young folk, likely in future to be short of people to carry on the traditions, and do the
work as their parents get older. Once disrupted, their way of life is in danger of being
lost forever.

Q. Where are strategies for reducing traffic emissions likely to be more effective
in developed world or in developing countries?

Ans. Evidence of a reduction here in Los Angeles so that it shows methods used are
working in this developed world city, developing world cities are growing faster/traffic
and industry are increasing more than in the developed world, pollution/traffic controls
are less strong/less likely to be strictly enforced, control measures are costly, examples
of measures used to reduce traffic and industrial emissions –
If the answer is based on more effective in developing cities, some progress can be
made with the line of argument that there is massive private car ownership and use in
developed world cities, so much more traffic that even with lower emissions pollution
levels are greater, public transport is more likely to run on newer cleaner fuels like
natural gas.

Q. Main sources of Methane in atmosphere

decaying organic matter/wetlands;

rice paddies;
grazing animals/cattle/deer/sheep/camels, up to 2 marks if developed
termites;
animal waste;
industrial air pollution;
landfill sites;
leaks from natural gas pipelines;
drilling;
coal mines;
biomass burning;
domestic sewage treatment;
(methane hydrate) released from the ocean;
melting permafrost

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Q. When and where do cyclones form?

Where – over warm ocean surfaces in the tropics / near the Equator in Atlantic, Pacific
and Indian Oceans
When – late summer when the sea water temperatures are at their highest (26°C+)
Why – surface heating causes warm air to rise, which draws in air towards it,
establishing a moving circulation in the atmosphere capable of developing into a
cyclone.

Q. Describe how high levels of air pollution can affect economic activity in a city?

Ans. health issues leads to loss of work days; wealthy/wealth creators move away; e.g.
of health issue (bronchitis/asthma/irritates eyes/skin irritation/breathing difficulties);
transport issues caused by fog/smog; costs to industry of permits to pollute/cleaning
effects of pollution;
Q. Suggest reasons why it is difficult to reduce the amount of particulates going
into the atmosphere in cities.

Ans. satisfying essential domestic needs for energy; people/industries using the
cheapest energy source/cost implications; people using the one most readily available
to them; too engaged in survival to consider environmental effects; cannot afford
alternative fuels; increasing wealth of population leads to greater fuel use (cars);
(cleaner) alternative fuels not available; high density/concentrated population;

Q .Explain how physical characteristics can lead to the buildup of high level of air
pollution.

Ans. high air pressure – sinking air so that pollutants are trapped in the lower
atmosphere; high pressure associated with low wind speeds/calm weather; calm
conditions – increasing temperature with height stops air rising and dispersing;
pollutants not dispersed by winds; steep sided hills – pollutants are trapped in the basin
between steep sided mountains; less able to be dispersed by winds;

Q Describe strategies that can be used to improve the air quality in cities like
Karachi and Lahore.

An. banning cars from city centers; according to registration numbers; compulsory fitting
of catalytic converters on vehicle exhausts; petrol and diesel replaced by cleaner
fuels/or named (natural gas, CNG/CBG); fitting diesel vehicles with particulate filters;
facilitating electric powered vehicles; encouraging greater use of public transport/bikes;
laws on emissions from vehicles; laws on emissions from industry/power stations;

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relocating industrial areas to down wind side of city; alternative fuels (geothermal, solar,
wind, etc.); sulfur ‘scrubbing’; planting trees to filter particulates

Q. Describe three types of environmental damage caused by urban growth.

Ans. River polluted, polluted lakes and seas, overuse of underground water stores
destroy woodland and natural habitats, air pollution.

Q. Describe ways in which govt. can improve protection of the environment from
industrial pollution.
Ans. Regulations and anti-pollution laws, monitoring by govt. officials / agencies,
persecution of offenders with fines, closing down persistent offenders, govt .should
support for renewable / alternative energy sources
Q. Name some greenhouses gases. Why are they called greenhouses gases?
Ans. methane, CFCs or nitrogen oxides, they enhance / increase / speed up /
accelerate the natural greenhouse effect, they trap
some of the heat which is radiated from the surface at night, preventing heat loss
beyond the upper atmosphere into space, making the Earth's surface warmer than it
would otherwise be, without 'greenhouse gases' in the atmosphere the Earth would be
about 30ºC colder

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