Unit 6 - Atmospheric Systems & Societies
Smog's Tale: Air Pollution Explained
Table of content
Key definitions
-
Primary Pollutants: These are directly emitted into the atmosphere from a source. When you burn fossil fuels like in cars and factories, you're creating primary pollutants. Examples include carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and nitrogen monoxide (NO).
Think of it like this: If pollution was a cooking show, primary pollutants would be the raw ingredients. Just like onions right out of the ground, they're released as-is into the air.
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Secondary Pollutants: These pollutants aren't released directly. Instead, they form in the air when primary pollutants interact with each other or with natural components of the atmosphere. A prime example is tropospheric (ground-level) ozone (O3).
Here's an analogy: Secondary pollutants are like a freshly baked pie. The pie wasn't in the oven to start, but the heat combined the ingredients into something new.
The story of smog
- Cities are like giant barbecues for burning fossil fuels, especially because of all the vehicles. These fuels give off hydrocarbons like CO, CO2, and NO — our primary pollutants.
- Our friend NO then reacts with oxygen, under the guiding rays of sunlight, to form nitrogen dioxide (NO2). This gas has a knack for photobombing, as it gives off a brown haze. It's like that sepia filter on your phone, but for the whole city, and not nearly as cool.
- NO2 also has another party trick. It can absorb sunlight and break apart, leaving behind oxygen atoms. These atoms then get chummy with other oxygen in the air and form ozone.
- But this ozone isn't like the protective layer in the stratosphere that shields us from UV radiation. Nope, this is ground-level or tropospheric ozone, and it's a major component of photochemical smog. Hence, it's a secondary pollutant.
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Unit 6 - Atmospheric Systems & Societies
Smog's Tale: Air Pollution Explained
Table of content
Key definitions
-
Primary Pollutants: These are directly emitted into the atmosphere from a source. When you burn fossil fuels like in cars and factories, you're creating primary pollutants. Examples include carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and nitrogen monoxide (NO).
Think of it like this: If pollution was a cooking show, primary pollutants would be the raw ingredients. Just like onions right out of the ground, they're released as-is into the air.
-
Secondary Pollutants: These pollutants aren't released directly. Instead, they form in the air when primary pollutants interact with each other or with natural components of the atmosphere. A prime example is tropospheric (ground-level) ozone (O3).
Here's an analogy: Secondary pollutants are like a freshly baked pie. The pie wasn't in the oven to start, but the heat combined the ingredients into something new.
The story of smog
- Cities are like giant barbecues for burning fossil fuels, especially because of all the vehicles. These fuels give off hydrocarbons like CO, CO2, and NO — our primary pollutants.
- Our friend NO then reacts with oxygen, under the guiding rays of sunlight, to form nitrogen dioxide (NO2). This gas has a knack for photobombing, as it gives off a brown haze. It's like that sepia filter on your phone, but for the whole city, and not nearly as cool.
- NO2 also has another party trick. It can absorb sunlight and break apart, leaving behind oxygen atoms. These atoms then get chummy with other oxygen in the air and form ozone.
- But this ozone isn't like the protective layer in the stratosphere that shields us from UV radiation. Nope, this is ground-level or tropospheric ozone, and it's a major component of photochemical smog. Hence, it's a secondary pollutant.
Unlock the Full Content!
Dive deeper and gain exclusive access to premium files of Environmental Systems & Societies SL. Subscribe now and get closer to that 45 🌟
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