Environmental ScienceEnvironmental Science

Science Content ReviewScience Content Review

ELED 4312ELED 4312

Dr. LeeDr. Lee

Topics Topics

• Acid RainAcid Rain

• Global Warming (Greenhouse Effect)Global Warming (Greenhouse Effect)

• Bad & Good OzoneBad & Good Ozone

• Waste Management (Recycling)Waste Management (Recycling)

What is Acid Rain?What is Acid Rain?

• Acid rain is rain that is more acidic Acid rain is rain that is more acidic than normal. Acid rain is a than normal. Acid rain is a complicated problem. Caused by air complicated problem. Caused by air pollution, acid rain's spread and pollution, acid rain's spread and damage involves weather, chemistry, damage involves weather, chemistry, soil, and the life cycles of plants and soil, and the life cycles of plants and animals on the land and from acid animals on the land and from acid rain in the water. rain in the water.

PH: Measuring for acidityPH: Measuring for acidity• pH is a measure of how acidic the water is. pH is a measure of how acidic the water is. • The pH notation is an index of Hydrogen's The pH notation is an index of Hydrogen's

chemical activity in a solution. chemical activity in a solution. • pH is a Log Scale Unit of Measure, and is used pH is a Log Scale Unit of Measure, and is used

to express the degree of acidity of a to express the degree of acidity of a substance. substance.

• Values will range from pH 1 to pH 2 for strong Values will range from pH 1 to pH 2 for strong acids, through pH 7 for neutral solutions such acids, through pH 7 for neutral solutions such as ultra pure water, on up to values of pH 11 as ultra pure water, on up to values of pH 11 and higher for very strong bases like lye.and higher for very strong bases like lye.

PH ScalePH Scale

Effects of Acid RainEffects of Acid Rain• Soil:Soil: Acid rain can damage soil by destroying Acid rain can damage soil by destroying

many vital substances and washing away the many vital substances and washing away the nutrients. nutrients.

• Tree:Tree: The acid takes important minerals away The acid takes important minerals away from the leaves and the soil. Without these from the leaves and the soil. Without these minerals, trees and plants cannot grow properly. minerals, trees and plants cannot grow properly. Damaged trees lose their leaves, have stunted Damaged trees lose their leaves, have stunted growth and damaged bark. This makes it easier growth and damaged bark. This makes it easier for fungi and insects to attack the tree, and as a for fungi and insects to attack the tree, and as a result the tree may die.result the tree may die.

• Some fish and animalsSome fish and animals, such as frogs, have a , such as frogs, have a hard time adapting to and reproducing in an hard time adapting to and reproducing in an acidic environment. acidic environment.

What Can I Do for prevention of Acid What Can I Do for prevention of Acid Rain?Rain?• Avoid burning trash or leaves. Avoid burning trash or leaves. • Conserve energy. Reduction in demand for oil and Conserve energy. Reduction in demand for oil and

coal reduces the amount of acid rain. coal reduces the amount of acid rain.

Greenhouse EffectGreenhouse Effect

• The greenhouse effect The greenhouse effect is the rise in is the rise in temperature that the temperature that the Earth experiences Earth experiences because certain gases because certain gases in the atmosphere in the atmosphere (water vapor, carbon (water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane, for and methane, for example) trap energy example) trap energy from the sun. from the sun.

Example of Greenhouse EffectExample of Greenhouse Effect

Greenhouse GasesGreenhouse Gases

• These gases, mainly water These gases, mainly water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), all act nitrous oxide (N2O), all act as effective global as effective global insulators. insulators.

• Without these gases, heat Without these gases, heat would escape back into would escape back into space and Earth’s average space and Earth’s average temperature would be about temperature would be about 60ºF colder. Because of how 60ºF colder. Because of how they warm our world, these they warm our world, these gases are referred to as gases are referred to as greenhouse gases. greenhouse gases.

Importance of Greenhouse EffectImportance of Greenhouse Effect

• Without the greenhouse effect, the Earth would not Without the greenhouse effect, the Earth would not be warm enough for humans to live. be warm enough for humans to live.

• Yet, if the greenhouse effect becomes stronger, it Yet, if the greenhouse effect becomes stronger, it could make the Earth warmer than usual. Even a little could make the Earth warmer than usual. Even a little extra warming may cause problems for humans, extra warming may cause problems for humans, plants, and animals.plants, and animals.

• Global WarmingGlobal Warming: : Global warming refers to an Global warming refers to an average increase in the Earth's temperature, which in average increase in the Earth's temperature, which in turn causes changes in climate. A warmer Earth may turn causes changes in climate. A warmer Earth may lead to changes in rainfall patterns, a rise in sea lead to changes in rainfall patterns, a rise in sea level, and a wide range of impacts on plants, wildlife, level, and a wide range of impacts on plants, wildlife, and humans.and humans.

Bad Ozone: Ground-level Bad Ozone: Ground-level OzoneOzone

• In the troposphere, the air closest to the In the troposphere, the air closest to the Earth's surface, ground-level or "bad" ozone Earth's surface, ground-level or "bad" ozone is a pollutant that is a significant health risk, is a pollutant that is a significant health risk, especially for children with asthma. especially for children with asthma.

• It also damages crops, trees and other It also damages crops, trees and other vegetation. It is a main ingredient of urban vegetation. It is a main ingredient of urban smog. smog.

• Ground-level ozone is created by a chemical Ground-level ozone is created by a chemical reaction between oxides of nitrogen (reaction between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) ) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the presence of sunlight. presence of sunlight.

Good Ozone: stratospheric Good Ozone: stratospheric OzoneOzone• The stratosphere, or "good" ozone layer The stratosphere, or "good" ozone layer

extends upward from about 6 to 30 miles extends upward from about 6 to 30 miles and protects life on Earth from the sun's and protects life on Earth from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.

• This natural shield has been gradually This natural shield has been gradually depleted by man-made chemicals like depleted by man-made chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

• A depleted ozone shield allows more UV A depleted ozone shield allows more UV from the sun to reach the ground, leading from the sun to reach the ground, leading to more cases of skin cancer, cataracts, to more cases of skin cancer, cataracts, and other health problems.and other health problems.

The Ozone LayerThe Ozone Layer

• ““The ozone layer" refers to the ozone The ozone layer" refers to the ozone within stratosphere, where over 90% of within stratosphere, where over 90% of the earth's ozone resides. the earth's ozone resides.

• Ozone is an irritating, corrosive, colorless Ozone is an irritating, corrosive, colorless gas with a smell something like burning gas with a smell something like burning electrical wiring. electrical wiring.

• Each molecule of ozone has three oxygen Each molecule of ozone has three oxygen atoms (O3) and is produced when oxygen atoms (O3) and is produced when oxygen molecules (O2) are broken up by energetic molecules (O2) are broken up by energetic electrons or high energy radiation. electrons or high energy radiation.

Importance of Ozone LayerImportance of Ozone Layer

• The ozone layer absorbs The ozone layer absorbs 97-99% of the sun's 97-99% of the sun's high frequency high frequency ultraviolet light , which ultraviolet light , which is potentially damaging is potentially damaging to life on earth. to life on earth.

• Every 1% decrease in Every 1% decrease in the earths ozone shield the earths ozone shield is projected to increases is projected to increases the amount of UV light the amount of UV light exposure to the lower exposure to the lower atmosphere by 2%. atmosphere by 2%.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's) put chlorine into the stratosphere Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's) put chlorine into the stratosphere

ClCl + O3 ---> ClO + O2 ClO + O3 ---> 2 O2 + + O3 ---> ClO + O2 ClO + O3 ---> 2 O2 + ClCl

Prevention of Ozone Depletion Prevention of Ozone Depletion

• The ozone layer is expected to eventually The ozone layer is expected to eventually recover, if all nations maintain their efforts to recover, if all nations maintain their efforts to reduce ozone-destroying chemicals. reduce ozone-destroying chemicals.

• Many countries of the world have moved to Many countries of the world have moved to reduced the use of CFCs.reduced the use of CFCs.

• There are four basic uses for chlorofluorocarbons There are four basic uses for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs); refrigerants, foam blowing agents, (CFCs); refrigerants, foam blowing agents, cleaning agents, and propellants. cleaning agents, and propellants.

Why Recycling?Why Recycling?

• Recycling is beneficial Recycling is beneficial because it conserves because it conserves valuable natural valuable natural resources, reduces resources, reduces energy consumption in energy consumption in the manufacturing of the manufacturing of goods, creates jobs, goods, creates jobs, stimulates business stimulates business development, extends development, extends the life of landfills, and the life of landfills, and reduces disposal costs. reduces disposal costs.

Did you know that?Did you know that?

• Recycling is an excellent way of saving Recycling is an excellent way of saving energy and conserving the environment. energy and conserving the environment. Did you know that: Did you know that:

• 1 recycled tin can would save enough 1 recycled tin can would save enough energy to power a television for 3 hours. energy to power a television for 3 hours.

• 1 recycled glass bottle would save enough 1 recycled glass bottle would save enough energy to power a computer for 25 minutes. energy to power a computer for 25 minutes.

• 1 recycled plastic bottle would save enough 1 recycled plastic bottle would save enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for 3 energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for 3 hours. hours.

• 70% less energy is required to recycle 70% less energy is required to recycle paper compared with making it from raw paper compared with making it from raw materials. materials.

Recycling GuidelinesRecycling Guidelines

• Plastic/AluminumPlastic/Aluminum: Aluminum cans/plastic bottles only, rinse : Aluminum cans/plastic bottles only, rinse

containers, remove cap/lid, label may remain oncontainers, remove cap/lid, label may remain on• Glass ItemsGlass Items: Clear glass only, rinse containers, remove caps/lid, : Clear glass only, rinse containers, remove caps/lid,

label may remain onlabel may remain on• Newspaper/PaperNewspaper/Paper: No glossy inserts, no magazines, remove staples: No glossy inserts, no magazines, remove staples• Waste Waste : All pizza boxes, cereal boxes, cardboard, and waste : All pizza boxes, cereal boxes, cardboard, and waste

must be brought to the dumpster outsidemust be brought to the dumpster outside• Home Recycling SurveyHome Recycling Surveyhttp://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/eek/earth/recycle/recyquiz.htmhttp://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/eek/earth/recycle/recyquiz.htm

ReferenceReference

• http://www.nas.nasa.gov/About/Education/http://www.nas.nasa.gov/About/Education/Ozone/ozonelayer.htmlOzone/ozonelayer.html

• http://www.ypte.org.uk/docs/factsheets/http://www.ypte.org.uk/docs/factsheets/env_facts/acid_rain.htmlenv_facts/acid_rain.html

• http://www.ucar.edu/learn/1_3_1.htmhttp://www.ucar.edu/learn/1_3_1.htm

• http://cantseetheforest.org/2006/08/28/http://cantseetheforest.org/2006/08/28/greenhouse-gases-global-warming-and-climate-greenhouse-gases-global-warming-and-climate-change-introduction/change-introduction/

• http://www.swindon-pond-clean.co.uk/wheeliehttp://www.swindon-pond-clean.co.uk/wheelie%20bin%20clean/Recycle%20Tip's.htm%20bin%20clean/Recycle%20Tip's.htm