Atmospheric Gases and Environmental Phenomena Explained

Oxygen

Oxygen is produced by plants during photosynthesis. When environmental temperatures are sluggish, or at high temperatures, oxygen combines with substances to form an oxidizer. It is considered to participate in the activation of combustion. Oxygen is odorless, colorless, and tasteless.

Nitrogen

Nitrogen is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere. It is colorless, tasteless, odorless, and inert. It is not flammable. Nitrogen is obtained through the natural nitrogen cycle.

Hydrogen

Hydrogen is odorless, colorless, and tasteless. It is relatively inert at ambient temperatures. It is considered a fuel, and a small ignition with oxygen (O2) in the presence of free light, heat, and water vapor can occur. While it constitutes a very small percentage of the Earth's troposphere, hydrogen accounts for approximately half the mass of the sun.

Ozone

Ozone is colorless, tasteless, and odorless. It arises naturally.

Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide is produced during combustion in living organisms.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas.

Sulfur Oxides

Sulfur oxides are produced by industries. They are airway irritants and react with water to form acids, leading to acid rain.

Nitrogen Oxides

Nitrogen oxides are toxic gases, primarily emitted by vehicles. They can damage the airways.

Ozone Layer Depletion

Ozone layer depletion is due to the accumulation of chlorine in the stratosphere. This occurs because of the decomposition of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), commercially known as Freon. CFCs are chemically very stable in the troposphere; however, when they reach the stratosphere, they are broken down into active chlorine particles by the action of sunlight.

Acid Rain

The acids in acid rain are mainly due to emissions of gases like sulfur trioxide (SO3) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), originating from industrial activities and vehicle traffic.

Acid rain is harmful to vegetation because it causes a decrease in soil mineral reserves and leads to an enrichment of atmospheric nitrogen compounds that negatively affects forests.

Greenhouse Effect

In the greenhouse effect, energy delivered by the sun is absorbed by the Earth as heat. Only part of this energy is radiated by the Earth and escapes into space. Most of the heat is absorbed by a layer of atmospheric gases, including carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). These gases act like the glass in a greenhouse. The energy is then reradiated back to the Earth, causing an increase in the average temperature of the atmosphere.

Atmospheric Pollution

Pollutants are chemical substances released into the air that change its composition, causing adverse effects on health and the environment.

Types of Atmospheric Pollution

• Natural Pollution: Produced by natural phenomena such as wind, rain, and forest fires.
• Anthropogenic Pollution: Produced by human activities, including industries, households, and vehicles.

Types of Pollutants

• Primary Pollutants: Emitted directly into the atmosphere as a result of combustion and other chemical reactions. Examples include carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and sulfur trioxide (SO3).
• Secondary Pollutants: Radicals generated from highly reactive substances. Examples include ozone (O3), sulfuric acid (H2SO4), and nitric acid (HNO3).