Issue Sources Health/Environmental Effects
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Ground-level ozone (O3)
Sulfuric acid (H2SO4)
I need to complete the table above and have no idea what to do.
Choose one of the following atmospheric issues: air pollution, global warming, ozone depletion, and acid deposition. Then, respond to the following:
• What air pollutants combine and contribute to this issue?
• Briefly describe the health and environmental problems caused by the selected atmospheric issue.
• Provide one key solution to help either reduce the effects or recover from the effects of the selected issue.
Then I also have to do this and I am lost.
Is this a question?
Yes it was
To complete the table, you need to link each atmospheric issue (air pollution, global warming, ozone depletion, and acid deposition) with the corresponding pollutants and their health/environmental effects. Let's break it down for each issue:
1. Air Pollution:
- Pollutants: Carbon dioxide (CO2), Ground-level ozone (O3), Sulfuric acid (H2SO4)
- Health/Environmental Effects:
- Elevated levels of CO2 contribute to global warming and climate change, leading to extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and ecosystem disruption.
- Ground-level ozone causes respiratory issues, such as asthma and other respiratory diseases.
- Sulfuric acid deposition leads to acid rain, which damages ecosystems, harms plants and aquatic life, and erodes buildings and statues.
- Key Solution: Implementing stricter emission standards, promoting cleaner energy sources (like renewable energy), and encouraging energy efficiency can help reduce air pollution and its health and environmental impacts.
2. Global Warming:
- Pollutants: Carbon dioxide (CO2)
- Health/Environmental Effects:
- Global warming is primarily caused by the excessive release of CO2. It leads to rising temperatures, melting ice caps and glaciers, sea-level rise, and altered rainfall patterns.
- These changes disrupt ecosystems, threaten biodiversity, and can lead to the loss of habitats and the extinction of species.
- Key Solution: Reducing carbon emissions by shifting towards renewable energy, promoting energy efficiency, and adopting sustainable practices can help mitigate global warming and its impacts.
3. Ozone Depletion:
- Pollutants: Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
- Health/Environmental Effects:
- CFCs released from human activities, such as industrial processes and aerosol propellants, deplete the ozone layer in the stratosphere.
- This depletion allows harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation to reach the Earth's surface, increasing the risk of skin cancer and eye damage.
- Key Solution: The Montreal Protocol, an international agreement, successfully phased out the production and use of most ozone-depleting substances. Adhering to the regulations and continuing to enforce them is key to recovery from ozone depletion.
4. Acid Deposition:
- Pollutants: Sulfuric acid (H2SO4)
- Health/Environmental Effects:
- Acid deposition occurs when sulfuric acid combines with water vapor in the atmosphere and returns to the Earth as acid rain or snow.
- Acid rain damages forests, soils, and aquatic ecosystems. It can harm fish, plants, and animals, and can corrode infrastructure and historic buildings.
- Key Solution: Implementing stricter regulations on industrial emissions, reducing the use of fossil fuels with high sulfur content, and adopting technologies to remove sulfur dioxide (SO2) from stack gases can help reduce acid deposition and its harmful effects.
Remember, these answers are just a starting point, and you can further expand on the solutions and impacts based on more research or specific case studies related to the atmospheric issue you choose.