Major Environmental Issues of Our World

Global AtmosphericChanges and

Air Quality Issues

Global Climate Change

• Mean annual global temperature,1960–2003

Global Climate Change• The Causes of Global Climate Change

• CO2 in the atmosphere

Global Climate Change• The Causes of Global Climate Change

• Enhanced Greenhouse Effect

Global Climate Change

• Effects of Global Climate Change

• Melting Ice and Rising Sea Levels1957 1998

Global Climate Change• Effects of Global Climate Change

• Effects on Organisms

Present range of beech trees

Predicted range after climate change

Global Climate Change

• Effects of Global Climate Change

• Melting Ice and Rising Sea Levels

Melting permafrost

Global Climate Change

• International Implications of Global Climate Change

• Highly Developed versus Developing Nations

Global Climate Change

• Specifics on How to Deal with Global Climate Change

Less mitigation

More greenhouse gases produced

More serious climate change

effects

Greater impact on humans and natural environment

More adaptation required

Ozone Depletion in the Stratosphere- Due to CFC’s

Reduced levels of ozone

Normal levels of ozone

Acid Deposition +Acid rain

• Measuring Acidity

Acid Deposition

• How Acid Deposition Develops

Acid Deposition

• Acid Deposition and Forest Decline

Acid Deposition

Air Pollution Issues

The Atmosphere as a Resource

• Atmospheric composition:

• Nitrogen = 78%

• Oxygen = 21%

• Argon = 0.93%

• Carbon dioxide = 0.04%

Types and Sources of Air Pollution• Primary and Secondary Air Pollutants

Types and Sources of Air Pollution

• Primary Air PollutantsCarbonmonoxide

Nitrogen oxides

Particulates

Volatileorganics

Sulfur dioxide

Ammonia

Lead

Types and Sources of Air Pollution

• Sources of Outdoor Air Pollution

Transportation

Fuelcombustion

Industrialprocesses

Other

Urban Air Pollution

Types and Sources of Air Pollution

• Case-in-Point: Air Pollution in Los Angeles and Mexico CitySources of smog in Los Angeles

Trucks, buses, &passenger vehicles

Industries

Aircraft, ships, & trains

Consumer products &homes

Controlling Air Pollution in the United States

• Clean Air Act

Emissions in the US, 1970 vs. 2000

Air Pollution Around the World

• Many nations do not have most current pollution scrubbing technologies

Air pollution in China

Air Pollution Around the World• Long-Distance Transport of Air Pollution:

Global Distillation Effect

Indoor Air Pollution

Indoor Air Pollution

• Radon

• Carcinogen