ENVIRSC 1C03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Boiling Point, Formaldehyde, Volatile Organic Compound
Document Summary
A gas, aerosol, or particulate added to atmosphere that can have harmful effects or affect climate. 3 factors determine level: amount of pollutants entering atmosphere, amount of space, mechanisms that remove the pollutants. Primary pollutants- direct product of combustion or evapouration, primary air pollutants have natural sources like volcanoes, burning, dust storms. Secondary pollutants- products of primary pollutants with atmosphere and sunlight, include nitric acid, peroxyacyl nitrates, formaldehyde, ozone. Area sources- well defined areas where there are sources. Mobile sources- move from place to place (cars, planes, ship) Volatile organic compound- low boiling point, causes molecules to evaporate and enter surrounding air. Ozone- found in upper atmosphere or stratosphere, shields from rays by being absorbed, splitting into o2 and o. Chlorofluorocarbons- greenhouse gases increasing in concentration, destroys ozone , uv strikes cfc, cl is released and attacks o3. Ozone is then decreasing in antarctica causing the hole, getting back because.