Ozone (O3
) is a made with three oxygen atoms; it is very unstable and has a short lifetime. At room
Temperature and pressure has acrid odour and no colour, although at high concentration levels can turn
Into blue. At high concentrations can be toxic and can cause death.
It s not emitted directly into the air, but is created by chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen
(NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the presence of sunlight.
VOC + NOx + sunlight tropospheric O3Particulate Matter (PM)
"Particulate matter," also known as particle pollution or PM, is a complex mixture of extremely small
Particles and liquid droplets. Particle pollution is made up of a number of components, including acids
(such as nitrates and sulfates), organic chemicals, metals, and soil or dust particles.
Particle pollution includes "inhalable coarse particles," with
Diameters larger than 2.5 micrometers and smaller than 10
Micrometers and "fine particles," with diameters that are 2.5
Micrometers and smaller
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2
) is one of a group of highly reactive gasses known as "oxides of
Nitrogen," or "nitrogen oxides (NOx
)." Other nitrogen oxides include nitrous acid and nitric
Acid. EPA’s National Ambient Air Quality Standard uses NO2 as the indicator for the larger
Group of nitrogen oxides. NO2
Forms quickly from emissions from cars, trucks and buses,
Power plants, and off-road equipment. In addition to contributing to the formation of groundlevel
Ozone, and fine particle pollution, NO2
Is linked with a number of adverse effects on the
Respiratory systemSulfur dioxide (SO2
) is one of a group of highly reactive gasses known as “oxides of sulfur.”
The largest sources of SO2 emissions are from fossil fuel combustion at power plants (73%)
And other industrial facilities (20%). Smaller sources of SO2 emissions include industrial
Processes such as extracting metal from ore, and the burning of high sulfur containing fuels
By locomotives, large ships, and non-road equipment. SO2
Is linked with a number of
Adverse effects on the respiratory system
Smog: smoke + fog
Smog is a type of air pollution derived from vehicular emissions and industrial fumes that react in the
atmosphere with sunlight to form secondary pollutants that also combine with the primary emissions to
Form photochemical smog. This phenomenon is increased by thermal inversion, that traps pollution close to
The ground. It is usually highly toxic to humans and can cause severe sickness, shortened life or death
Acid rain is a rain or any other form of precipitation that is unusually acidic, meaning that it possesses
Elevated levels of hydrogen ions (low pH). It can have harmful effects on plants, aquatic animals and
Infrastructure. Acid rain is caused by emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2
) and nitrogen oxide (NOx
), which
React with the water molecules in the atmosphere to produce acids. Nitrogen oxides can also be
Produced naturally by lightning strikes and sulfur dioxide is produced by volcanic eruptions. The
Chemicals in acid rain can cause paint to peel, corrosion of steel structures such as bridges, and erosion
Of stone statues.
The greenhouse effect is a process by which thermal radiation from a planetary surface is absorbed by
Atmospheric GHG and is re-radiated in all directions. Since part of this re-radiation is back towards the
Surface and the lower atmosphere, it results in an elevation of the average surface temperature above what it
Would be in the absence of the gases.
Solar radiation at the frequencies of visible light largely passes through the atmosphere to warm the planetary
Surface, which then emits this energy at the lower frequencies of IR thermal radiation. Infrared radiation is
Absorbed by GHG, which in turn re-radiate much of the energy to the surface and lower atmosphere.
The surface temperature of Earth without this phenomenon would be around 33°C below actual surface
Temperature (≈ 14°C). Earth’s natural greenhouse effect makes life as we know it possible. However,
Human activities have intensified the natural GH effect, causing global warming.Keeling curve shows the continuous growth of CO2
In the atmosphere since
1958. It takes all measurings in an observer of vulcano Mauna Loa,
And were the first evidence of the fast increase of CO2
In the atmosphere.
These gases are inactive in the atmosphere for a long time CO2 concentration
Has increased from preindustrial age (around 1750), from 280 ppm a 379 ppm en 2005. Around 2/3 of
Emissions come from fossil fuel burning, while remaining 1/3 comes from the change in ground use
(including deforestation)
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