ED1231 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Asthma, Smog, Nitrogen Dioxide
Environmental Science, Technology and Enterprise
Lecture 6 – Week 6
Natural Services
- Humans depend on the environment for natural services
o Air purification
o Climate control
o UV Protection (Ozone Layer)
o Water purification
o Waste treatment
o Soil renewal
o Food production
o Nutrient recycling
o Population control
o Pest control
What makes up the air?
Air Pollution
- The presence of chemicals in the atmosphere in concentrations high enough to harm organisms, ecosystems,
materials, or to alter climate
Pollutants
- Natural sources
o Dust blown by wind
o Smoke from fires
o Volcanic materials
- Human sources
o Burning fossil fuels
▪ Cars
▪ Power generations
Pollutant
Source
Features
Impact
Carbon Dioxide
(CO2)
Burning fossil fuels
- Coal
- Wood
- Oil
Clearing forests and
grasslands
0.037% of atmosphere
Increases greenhouse effect
→ Global warming →
Climate change
Is CO2 a Greenhouse Gas?
- 93% of CO2 is from the natural carbon cycle
- Coal is a fossil fuel, as is gas, petrol, aviation fuel, diesel and oil. All are made from the fossilised remains of long-dead
plants and animals
- Carbon dioxide is released whenever fossil fuel is burnt
- The clearing of land (deforestation) by burning forests has a double effect
- Not only are greenhouse gases released when forests burn, but the destroyed trees are no longer available to store carbon
dioxide
The Carbon Cycle
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Humans depend on the environment for natural services: air purification, climate control, uv protection (ozone layer, water purification, waste treatment, soil renewal, food production, nutrient recycling, population control, pest control. The presence of chemicals in the atmosphere in concentrations high enough to harm organisms, ecosystems, materials, or to alter climate. Natural sources: dust blown by wind, smoke from fires, volcanic materials. 93% of co2 is from the natural carbon cycle. Coal is a fossil fuel, as is gas, petrol, aviation fuel, diesel and oil. All are made from the fossilised remains of long-dead plants and animals. Carbon dioxide is released whenever fossil fuel is burnt. Not only are greenhouse gases released when forests burn, but the destroyed trees are no longer available to store carbon. The clearing of land (deforestation) by burning forests has a double effect dioxide. Vehicle exhausts, burning forests, open fires, cigarettes, un-fuelled heaters, gas cook tops.
