ENV100Y5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Lignin, Kyoto Protocol, Oil Sands

• School: UTM
• Department: Environment
• Course: ENV100Y5
• Professor: Barbara Murck

Document Summary

Natural sources of air pollution: fire, volcanoes. Large quantities of particulate matter (ash), aerosols, sulphur dioxide and other volcanic gases - can remain in the atmosphere for months or years. Aerosols = reflect sunlight back into space and cool the atmosphere and surface; and enhance cloud formation. Secondary pollutants-> when direct pollutants react with other molecules. 1999: canadian environmental protection act: environment canada groups pollutants of greatest concern into four (overlapping) categories: Other toxic air pollutants (e. g. , radon, asbestos) Sulphur dioxide (so2 or sox or trs) > when pollutants react with create harmful compounds. > where there is poor wind and no ventilation. Thermal inversion = layer of cool air trapped beneath a layer of warmer air. Denser, cooler air at the bottom of the inversion layer resists mixing. Ontario aqi was replaced by the air quality health index in 2015: describes health risks associated with air pollution, better harmonization with other jurisdictions.