Global Consequences

of Air Pollution
 Acid Rain
Acid rain is a rain or any other form of precipitation that is unusually acidic, i.e.
elevated levels of hydrogen ions (low pH). i.e acid deposition
Acid Rain
 Effects of Acid Rain
1. On buildings/ materials 2. Trees and forests 3. On aquatic life
 OzoneLayerDepletion
Ozone layer
The ozone layer is a layer in
Earths Atmosphere which
contains relatively high
concentrations of ozone.
It absorbs 9799% of the suns
high frequency ultraviolet light,
which is potentially damaging to
life on earth.
Over 90% of the ozone in Earth's
atmosphere is present here
Ozone Depletion
Sources
Chemistry of ozone hole formation

This chlorine is very active and can break

thousands of ozone molecules in stratosphere
 DepletionofOzoneLayer
A thinning ozone layer leads to a number of serious
health risks for humans.
Causes greater incidences of skin cancer and eye
cataracts, with children being particularly vulnerable.
Serious impacts on biodiversity.
Increased UVB rays reduce levels of plankton in the
oceans and subsequently diminish fish stocks.
Adverse effects on plant growth reduces agricultural
productivity.
A direct negative economic impact is the reduced
lifespan of certain materials like plastics
TheOzoneHole

The ozone hole is the region

over Antarctica with total
ozone 220 Dobson Units or
lower. (The avg total column
ozone in the atmosphere is
about 300 DU.)

One DU= 0.01mm thick layer of

ozone under standard
temperature and pressure.

Ozone hole in Sept 2005. Source: NASA

 GlobalWorming

Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of

earth nearsurface air and oceans since the mid20th century and
its projected continuation.
TheGreenHouseEffect
GreenHouseEffectandGlobalWarming

Green house gases

9CO2
9N2O
9CH4
9CFCs
9 Water Vapors
9Trifluoromethyl sulphur
pentaflouride (SF5CF3)
 Deforestation
9 Trees play a unique role in the global carbon cycle.

9 Largest landbased natural mechanism for removing CO2 from the air.
(CO2 is also removed by the oceans and ocean organisms.)

9 An acre of forest absorbs about 10 times the CO2 absorbed by an

acre of cropland or grassland.

9 One tree absorbs about 13 pounds of CO2 per year, and each oneacre
of forest absorbs about 2.8 tons of CO2.

9 Everyday over 5500 acres of rainforest are destroyed, and over 50

million acres are destroyed every year.

9 Global CO2 levels rise approximately 0.4 percent each year

 Populationgrowth

9The industrial revolution caused a rapid

increase in the population growth resulting
into increased energy production and use.

9 There is a clear link between the problems of

global warming and over population, as
increases in CO2 levels follows growth in
population.
GHGases TheirStatisticsinAtmosphere
S.No. Air pollutants Atmospheri Life span in Annually Human
c atmosphere increasing contribution
concentrat- (Years) rate (%) (%)
ion (ppm)

1. CO2 355 500 1.5 55

2. CFCs 0.00225 110 0.5 24

3. CH4 1.675 7-10 1.0 18

4. N 2O 0.3 140-190 0.2 6

5. Trifluoromethyl -- 3500 In 1960s - Source

sulphur 0.12 ppt . still
pentaflouride In 1999- unknown*
(SF5CF3) 1012 ppt.

*Researchers think that the new gas may be a by-product of the

manufacture or decomposition of SF6 and they both can absorb heat
radiating from the earth surface.
 GasesdeadlierthanCO2!

CFCs Heat trapped by one mole of CFCs ~ 15001700 times as much

heat per molecule as CO2

CH4 Heat trapped by one mole of CH4 ~ 25 times as much heat per
molecule as CO2

N20 Heat trapped by one mole of N2O ~ 230 times as much heat per
molecule as CO2

SF5CF3 Heat trapped by one mole of Trifluoromethyl sulphur

pentaflouride (SF5CF3) ~ 1800022,000 times as much heat per
molecule as CO2
 EffectsofGlobalWarming
Global temperature Increase

Rise in sea level

Effect on health

Impact on agriculture

Impact on ecology

Impact on water resources

Impactonairquality
Effects of Global Warming

Melting of Glaciers

Hurricane Storms

Rise In Sea Level Threat to polar beers

Stop Pollution Save Environment-
Save Mother Earth