Climate lab 4

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Lab 4 Q1: Notice the large amount of both dust (red color) and biomass-burning aerosols (green color) over Africa and being transported to the west by winds. Which of these two types of aerosols are probably more dangerous to the health of people exposed to them? Of the two, biomass-burning is probably the most dangerous because they have the smallest particulates. Q2: What is the general movement of aerosols in the middle latitudes (e.g., 30° to 65°)? Does it tend to be east to west or west to east? You should refer to a map or Google Earth if you cannot determine where 30° to 65° latitude is in the video. The general movement of aerosols in the middle latitudes is west to east. Q3: Besides sea salt, what appears to be the dominant aerosol in the middle latitudes (e.g., 30° to 65°) of the Northern Hemisphere? You should refer to a map or Google Earth if you cannot determine where 30° N to 65° N latitude is in the video. Sulfates from the coal that burn. Q4: What is the most likely source of the high concentrations of sulfate aerosols over and downwind of eastern China? Sulfates from the burning of coal because there many factories in eastern China. The particulates produced in those factories created a high concentration of sulfate aerosols. Q5: What is the typical air flow thousands of feet above the surface in the middle latitudes and how does this affect the transport of pollutants? Westerly is the air flow thousands of feet above the surface. The flow allows rapid transport of pollution from west to east. Q6: Why are we concerned about high ozone concentrations in the troposphere in this lab while in Lab 2 (Stratospheric Ozone) we were concerned about low concentrations of ozone in the stratosphere?

Because the ozone is harmful to humans in the troposphere but the ozone in the stratosphere protects humans’ health. Q7: You should have noticed that there was a large swath of high concentrations of ozone in the Northern Hemisphere from May to September; why would the highest concentration occur during those months? The sunlight is perpendicular in the Northern hemisphere and there is a higher rate of solar radiation caused by the high concentration of ozone. Q8: Why do you think high ozone concentrations occasionally existed over the North Atlantic Ocean, despite the lack of large NO x and VOC emissions from the ocean? Hint: The answer is not increased solar radiation over the North Atlantic Ocean. The warm tropical Atlantic cause greater subsidence, less precipitation. And higher temperatures in the East. This makes an increase in the ozone concentration. Q9: During what months did you observe a large swath of high ozone concentrations in the Southern Hemisphere? March through May Q10: How are the factors that contributed to high ozone concentrations in the Northern Hemisphere different than the factors that contributed to high ozone concentrations in the Southern Hemisphere? Hint: Think about the sources of the precursor chemicals. Northern Hemisphere- NOx, VOC, and Southern Hemisphere-Chlorine Q11: Why do you think the level of PM 10 emissions changed so rapidly in the first part of the graph above (left portion) and less rapidly in the remainder of the graph (right portion)? The left portion because it shows change over time effectively. Q12: What source had the largest decrease in PM 10 emissions from 1970 to 2010? By the way, the decrease in PM 10 emissions most likely caused a rebound in summer rainfall in the Atlanta region . Industrial Processes

Q13: What was the general trend from 1985 to 2014 in the size of the area with pH levels less than or equal to 4.5 (below which the environment is considered to be acidic)? NOx Emissions and the NO2 concentrations decreased. Q14: Across that entire time range, in what part of the country are the pH values the lowest (i.e., the most acidic precipitation)? In what part of the country are the pH values the highest (i.e., the least acidic precipitation)? The part of the country where the PH value is the lowest is areas with industrial activity. Q15: What region of the country (western, southern, midwestern/northeastern) had the biggest improvement in acid rain? Northwestern Q16: What source of NO x and SO 2 emissions was reduced the most between 1994 and 2010 and, as a result, helped to raise the pH level (i.e., decrease the acidity) of rain in the United States? Electricity Q17: What region of the country has the highest concentration of SO 2 emitters? India Q18: What did you learn about these emitters (e.g., their identity, the structure of the facility, etc.) by zooming in on them? Upon reaching the atmosphere the gases react with water to form Nitric and sulfuric. Q19: How does the region of highest concentration of NO x emitters compare to the region of highest concentration of SO 2 emitters? Why do you think this is the case? Q20: In Q13 you identified the parts of the country with the lowest and highest pH values. How does the information in these two Google™ Earth files explain which parts of the country have the lowest and highest values?

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Q21: The reduction of emissions of what chemicals (e.g., pollutants) led to the decrease in ozone concentrations shown in the figure above? Ozone Q22: Name two countries that have unhealthy concentrations of PM 2.5 ? What do you think are the major causes of those high PM 2.5 concentrations? India and China Q23: You most likely didn’t find unhealthy concentrations of PM 2.5 in the United States. Why is this? Because it’s well-controlled. Q24: Where in India are the cities with the highest PM 2.5 concentrations? Gwalior, and Allahabad Q25: How would you describe the general magnitude of aerosol optical depth (i.e., PM 2.5 concentrations) over northern India? Ignore the months with no data, which is indicated by grey. Q26: What are the likely major sources of the high concentrations of PM 2.5 over northern India? Open outdoor fires.

Climate lab 4

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