Free Essay

Atmospheric Issues

In: Science

Submitted By Italy
Words 1021
Pages 5
Atmospheric Issues Kristen Ault SCI/275 11-18-12 Brian Taylor

Ozone Depletion The atmospheric issues that we are facing are now becoming more of a major problem now more than ever. The biggest major issue I believe we are facing is ozone depletion and it is depleting at an alarming rate. We now have major holes where the ozone molecules have been ripped to shreds by chlorine and bromine. (National Geographic) The biggest ozone hole is over the Antarctic which has been getting bigger since the mid 80’s. The biggest contributor of producing these deadly chemicals, are the industrialists that use aerosol sprays that contain the chemical chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s). The government has recently within the last 16 years started to face this on- going problem and banned CFC’s from being used. This reduced the percentage rate of the chemical chlorine but experts still say it will take another 50 years for that chemical to balance itself back out. Even so the damage has already been done and the ozone molecules will not heal which means our earth’s protective layer will never be rebuilt. All we can do now is do everything we can to save what protective layer we have left, by reducing the amounts of the chemicals used to kill our ozone layer dramatically. The problems that ozone depletion is causing, is deadly radiation which causes cataracts and skin cancer, which is on the rise as well. It not only hurting humans though, it is also Affecting animals and the food chain as well. For example the organism algae which is known as phytoplankton which is a major food source for marine life is disappearing due to the ozone depleting, and scientists have noticed a difference in the reproductive percentage among (fish, frogs, salamanders, shrimp and crabs).

Indoor Pollution Indoor pollution has been a major issue for a long time, but has only gained the populations attention recently within the last 10 years. Pollutants like aerosol sprays, mold, cleaners, ammonia, bleach, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, and smoke. Smoke is becoming one of the major pollutants in households, whether it is cigarette smoke or smoke from your stove depending on the type you use. For instance smoky stoves that a lot of poor people use or old fashioned people use causes about 2 million deaths a year. Smoke being inhaled into the lungs causes someone to suffocate due to lack of oxygen that gets inside a person’s lungs. Not only can it kill a person but it also can cause devastating pollution in the atmosphere as well because smoke raises especially thick black smoke. There are things that are being done about these old smoky stoves though and they are being replaced by a stove that produces more heat, uses less fuel and are cleaner. The makeshift stoves being used today are easy to catch fire which also kills people. Women and children are out collecting cow dung and crop waste to use, which is more commonly used for fertilizer. The people who are making this difference happen are (The economist,2010) (Hillary Clinton, United Nations and World Health Organizations). They are making in the works a stove that has high technology that can be used in any conditions but only cost about 30 dollars or more. This will cut down on the indoor pollution along with the pollution that ends up in the atmosphere as well.

Current issues One major current issue we are facing right now with our atmosphere is the weather changes due to our ozone depletion. (Knight Matthew)Even though the ozone hole is located in the Antarctic it is having major effects in the tropic areas, and is creating more rain in the lower latitudes of the earth. Global warming which is also due to the ozone depletion is causing major weather changes. Just look at the major changes within the last few years, storms are becoming more frequent and devastating, and the temperature keeps rising causing less rainfall. Just recently New York suffered both a tornado and a hurricane in the city, something that has never happened before. And not just that either, but our seasons changed dramatically as well. It goes from summer to winter within a snap, and autumn is disappearing along with spring. Like last year winter did not even exist even within the northern states like Vermont and New York. It is amazing how things like the weather change dramatically due to something high above us. Indoor pollutants are causing more and more deaths each year, and the smoke factor is on the rise in percentage. More people are getting sick due to smoke in the house, because there is no clean air to breathe. Air that is polluted needs to be circulated out of the house so it cannot be considered harmful to anyone, yet millions of people smoke or cook with the doors and windows closed, leaving no clean oxygen in the dwelling. Lung cancer has increased due to this problem which causes more health problems to non-smokers than smokers themselves. This is why everyone is becoming a smoke free environment because it keeps people from getting sick or worse dies from the inhaled smoke.

Conclusion The indoor pollutants we use, along with the pollutant that are dumped into the atmosphere, are causing alarming rates of destruction. Deadly chemicals used by plants are causing our ozone layer to deplete itself with no way of repairing itself. This causes major weather changes along with our earth becoming more heated each given year. Indoor pollutants are killing people due to the lack of air quality within the home or allergic reactions to cleaners or sprays.

References

(Ozone depletion Oct 23 ,2009) Retrieved by National geographic http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/ozone-depletion-overview/ (Indoor pollution “silent but deadly” April 23, 2010) retrieved by The economist http://www.economist.com/node/17093623 (Knight Matthew, April 22, 2010) Retrieved from CNN world Antarctic ozone hole affecting tropic weather
http://articles.cnn.com/2011-04-22/world/antarctic.ozone.climate.rainfall_1_ozone-hole-antarctic-ozone-ozone-layer?_s=PM:WORLD

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Atmospheric Issues

...Atmospheric Issues SCI/275 March 31, 2013 Linda Bowen Atmospheric Issues Atmospheric issues occur when a form of pollution interferes with the natural balance of the major gases and compromise the atmosphere having a variety of effects. These forms of pollution can be confused with indoor air pollution. Indoor air pollution is something that contaminates the air inside a building. Carbon monoxide, cleaning products, bacteria, and nitrogen dioxide are just a few examples or indoor air pollution. A few examples of atmospheric pollutants would be methane, dust, ozone, and microorganisms. Acid rain can be a result of atmospheric pollution. Acid Rain is a combination of both wet and dry deposition that comes from the atmosphere that contains a higher than normal amount of sulfuric and nitric acids. The precursors of acid rain come from man-made sources, like emissions of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide from the combustion of fossil fuels, and natural sources, like decaying vegetation and volcanoes (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2012.) In America approximately 2/3 of the pollution that comes from the burning of fossil fuels are released into the air from the electric power that our generation relies so much on. When these gases mix with the gases that are already in the atmosphere, oxygen, water, and other chemicals multiple forms of acidic compounds are created and that results in a mild form of nitric acid and sulfuric acid (United States Environmental...

Words: 810 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Atmospheric Issues

...Atmospheric Issues Global warming is an issue that needs our immediate attention and will explain problems that have already taken place within our planet, ways we can help prevent any further damage to our planet from occurring, and methods that can be used to heal the earth from damages that have already been done. Temperatures are rising, glaciers are melting and land is eroding due to global warming. There are many things in this world that we are affected in a negative way as a result of global warming. According to Rodolfo and Siringan (2006), “Groundwater over-use and the land subsidence is another key issue for our regional sea-levels to have increased”. Groundwater over-use and land subsidence is the extraction of freshwater from the earth. Once the water is extracted, the land below will start to shift, therefore changing the lands natural formation. When this occurs, the ocean in certain regions will rise due to the ground levels dropping lower than normal. Storms such as tornados, hurricanes, avalanches, mud slides and lighting storms that all increasing in regularity and size due to the unstable atmospheric conditions and to the rising of warm moist air being mixed with cold air which causes tropical storms such as hurricanes and tornados. As in the current tornados in Oklahoma that have occurred repeatedly. Warm air in the mountains will cause avalanches and mud slides and promotes other increasing problems for certain cultures. People 50 years ago who...

Words: 1096 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Atmospheric Issues

...Running head: Atmospheric Issues 1 Atmospheric Issues Atmospheric issues Atmospheric Issues I am here to inform you that the largest employers in Sparksville have relocated to South Korea. This has damaged the city’s economy and displaced workers. Sparksville is working hard to find a industry that will stay and replenish the employment loss. Sparksville has three companies that want to open up in our town; an oil refinery, a hybrid car factory, and a Warehouse distribution center. Impact and pollution These companies will have an impact on the communities’ indoor and outdoor air and will contribute to factors of water pollution. The first option is a oil refinery company which will have a significant impact on the environment with point source pollutants. The company does have a solution to the air pollution with state of the art machinery. The refinery has a plan in place for sustainability in the community. This plan includes management of emissions, water consumption, and waste. They also offer carpooling incentive program to their employees. This company will also offer many jobs to the community. The next option is a hybrid car factory which will provide many jobs for the community through skilled labor or executive jobs. The hybrid company appears to be mindful of the environment by using state of the art technology, and recycling of water and waste. They will recycle more than 50% of water used through an onsite treatment...

Words: 572 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Atmospheric Issues

...Atmospheric Issues March 9, 2014 Environmental Science Shawnica Pollard Abstract The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast an atmospheric issue, climate change, to an indoor air pollutant, radon. The paper will include discussions about the similarities as well as the differences between climate change and radon, the causes and effects of both, efforts to mitigate these issues, and current events that relate to both climate change and radon. Atmospheric Issues Acid rain, an atmospheric issue, and radon, an indoor air pollutant are both issues that have a damaging effect on the environment and cause health problems for people in general. The population is becoming increasingly concerned about these issues and have begun to take steps to improve the quality of the atmosphere as well as combating indoor air pollutants. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, “Acid rain is a serious environmental problem that affects large parts of the United States and Canada. Acid rain is particularly damaging to lakes, streams, and forests and the plants and animals that live in these ecosystems.” (EPA, 2012). Acid rain is a mixture of wet and dry deposited material from the atmosphere containing “higher than normal amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids” (EPA, 2012). Acid rain is a result of both natural sources, such as those found in volcanoes and decaying vegetation, and man-made sources, primarily emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.  These man-made...

Words: 1214 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Atmospheric Issues

...Atmospheric Issues The Ozone layer is extremely important to sustain life on this planet. This layer which is located between 6 and 28 miles about the earths’ crust is slowly decreasing. Although scientists feel the thinning of the ozone layer is a natural occurrence, they also know humans are making it worse. Humans use products that emit pollutions that are increasing the thinning of the ozone layer which is increasing yearly. The primary pollutant and contributor to ozone depletion is a group of compounds called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Freon is a common CFC used in aerosol cans as propellants as well as coolants in air conditioners and refrigerators. CFCs are also used to propel insulation and packing materials such as Styrofoam. In addition to CFCs there are other compounds that contribute to ozone depletion. These compounds include: “halons, industrial solvents; and nitrous oxide, used as fire retardants; methyl bromide, a pesticide; methyl chloroform and carbon tetrachloride, released from the burning of fossil fuels like coal and from the breakdown of nitrogen fertilizers in the soil.” (Berg & Hager 2007). As a result of these air pollutants destroying the ozone, increased levels of ultraviolet rays cause both health and environmental problems. Some health problems associated with this issue includes skin cancer. Skin cancers like Squamous cell carcinoma, (SCC) Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and Malignant Melanoma (MM) are all proven to have been...

Words: 585 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Atmospheric Issues

...Atmospheric Issues Holly Regan SCI/275 August 24, 2014 Stacy Murphy Atmospheric Issues Sparksville's largest employer has relocated to South Korea leaving a huge hole in this city's economy and many displaced workers. Sparksville is trying to figure out how to find an industry that will stay here and fulfill the amount of growth possible in Sparksville and replenish the employment loss. There are three primary options for a large new employer; an oil refinery, a hybrid car factory and a Big Box store distribution center. The way these three potential employers would impact the quality of both indoor and outdoor air quality and the contributing factors of water pollution, emissions, and sustainable plans for the community vary significantly between each of the three choices. Options number one is an oil refinery and the knowledge possessed with this type of business shows a significant impact on the environment with point source pollutants, to which they proposed a solution stating they have state of the art machinery to avoid any significant amount of air pollution. The refinery has a sustainable plan for the community in place including the management of emissions, water consumption, and waste. Options number two is a hybrid car factory and the knowledge possessed with this type of business shows a substantial impact on the environment with nonpoint source pollutants. The hybrid car factory has no sustainable plan for the community, but they proposed low emissions...

Words: 801 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Atmospheric Issues

...Atmospheric Issues Anthony Smitt SCI/275 January 20, 2013 Christine Snyder Acid rain is the atmospheric issue I will be discussing in this writing. “Acid rain, also called acid precipitation or acid deposition, is precipitation possessing a pH of about 5.2 or below primarily produced from the emission of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx; the combination of NO and NO2) from human activities, mostly the combustion of fossil fuels” (Butler and Likens, 2012). I will be comparing and contrasting the indoor air pollutant tobacco smoke with acid rain. ”Tobacco smoke pollution, or secondhand smoke, comes from two places: smoke breathed out by the person who smokes, and smoke from the end of a burning cigarette” (Clean Air Council). “"Acid rain" is a broad term referring to a mixture of wet and dry deposition (deposited material) from the atmosphere containing higher than normal amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids” (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2007). Acid rain comes from emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the environment. There are many different contributors to these types of emissions, both man-made and natural sources. Examples include natural sources like volcanoes or decaying vegetation, or fossil fuel combustion which is a man-made source (U.S. environmental Protection Agency, (2007). As the Chapter 9 Reading states, nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxides in the atmosphere react with water to produce dilute solutions of sulfuric...

Words: 989 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Atmospheric Issues

...Atmospheric Issues Catherine A. Johnson SCI/275 February 23, 2014 University of Phoenix Atmospheric Issues As the planet expands, so does time periods that people spend in different interior spaces. Indoor air quality is of particular interest, since it effects behavior, ventilation, and the health of people. There is major concern for health issues resulting from indoor air pollution, as well as from the atmosphere. Similar to the Volatile organic compounds used in polluting indoor air quality, uses of similar chemicals are causing atmospheric issues as well. Compounds originate from indoor sources; a point of origin of gases or other materials which appears constantly in a similar way, although formed by mixtures of indoor and outdoor pollutants, it is a combination of the VOCs emitted gases from certain solids or liquids, which include varieties of chemicals from indoor and outdoor sources. If looking at seasons as a means of ventilation, this influences amounts of chemicals released into the air and into the environments people live and work. Sources such as vehicle emissions, tobacco smoke, wooden furniture, flooring, wallpapers, and gluing emissions are just a few of pollutants contaminating the air. Everyday uses of products like paints, lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, and pesticides also have a harmful effect on the atmosphere. Current research shows ‘the ozone layer deteriorating due to the release of pollution containing chemicals like chlorine...

Words: 1089 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Atmospheric Issues

...Atmospheric Issues John Doe SCI/275 November 2nd, 2014 Andrea Elstro Atmospheric Issues As you all know, recently one of the largest employers in Sparksville decided to outsource all of their manufacturing needs to South Korea and closed down all of their US facilities, including Sparksville. This has left Sparksville in a desperate situation and out city government has been working tirelessly to attract new companies to our area. We are pleased to announce that Sparksville is now considering three different companies that want to open up production facilities in our town. The first is a warehouse distribution center, the second is a car manufacturing plant, and the third is an oil refinery. Direct 2 U Furniture’s distribution center is basically just a big building with lots of garages and a parking lot. There is minimal environmental impact within the building itself, but there will be numerous trucks that will go to and from the warehouse on a regular basis transporting goods to various places. Even with the continuous operation of the trucks to and from the warehouse, there should be no measurable impact on the water supply in Sparksville. However, the trucks being used at Direct 2 U Furniture in the day to day operations could pose a substantial threat to the air quality around Sparksville. The trucks that will be used at the warehouse are going to be large delivery trucks and even larger 18 wheelers or more diesel trucks that are known for being heavy polluters...

Words: 631 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Atmospheric Issues

...Indoor air pollution is defined as the presence of one or more contaminants indoors that carry a certain degree of human health risk. Indoor air pollution dates back to the prehistoric era, where cavemen depicted the problems they encountered with the amount smoke that was present in their cave dwellings. As technology has advanced, to make our lives much more comfortable, over the past several decades there have been a number of products invented or improved. Along with the newer products came new studies and technology that helped us to study the effects these products were having on our environment and atmosphere we live in. The ozone layer is located in our stratosphere and plays a vital role in our survival, as well as every living animal and plant on this earth. The ozone layer consists of larger concentrations of O3, also known as ozone. The main purpose of the ozone layer is to filter out the harmful UV rays of the sun. This “filtering effect” is achieved through a photochemical process known as the ozone-oxygen cycle. During this process oxygen (O2) and ozone (O3) are constantly being created, broken down, and recreated. The UV rays of the sun cause oxygen molecules to split. The two free atoms join with another oxygen molecule to form ozone. The UV rays then cause an atom to separate from the ozone leaving an oxygen atom. Each time these splits occur UV energy is absorbed in the process. The process sounds self sustaining but there are several factors that contribute...

Words: 573 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Sci 275 Week 5 Atmospheric Issues

...Atmospheric Issues Morgan Luttrell SCI/275 April 12, 2015 Claudia Listopad, Ph. D. Hello city of Sparksville, I know you are all wondering what is going to be done about the outsourcing of jobs from the area. Without those jobs to help with the economy, the townspeople are suffering. That is why we have decided to look into some opportunities for Sparksville. Those opportunities include bringing a warehouse distributor business, a hybrid car business or an oil refinery to help the citizens of Sparksville with employment issues. Each of these options have effects on the townspeople, the environment, and the economy. Each of the businesses would have an impact on water and air pollution, which impacts the health of the residents, as well as the surrounding environment. The warehouse company would bring in more truck traffic and emissions to Sparksville. Emissions are a nonpoint source of pollution into the air, and also leads to the water from the acid rain from the effects of the emissions. Although the warehouse is small in nature, it would still have an effect on the water pollution because of sewage. Sewage would be a point source pollutant because it is coming from one particular area, similar to the car company. The hybrid car manufacturing company would also lead to more air pollution because of the trucks or train that would bring in parts, as well as emissions from the added traffic. The traffic would be a nonpoint source pollutant, similar to warehouse truck...

Words: 1034 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Why Become A Meteorologist

...Meteorologist Meteorologists, also known as atmospheric scientists, are experts on the atmosphere, weather, and climate. Meteorologists study the aforementioned categories and how they will affect not only the Earth, but human beings as well. Compiling and collecting data, developing forecasts, and understanding weather patterns are part of a meteorologist’s duties. Furthermore, meteorologists may invent new instruments to collect weather pattern or climate data, while consulting clients on the opportunities and risks associated with climate changes and atmospheric events. If you have an enthusiasm for analyzing data, mathematics, weather patterns, and science, this may be a career area you want to explore further. Why Become A Meteorologist...

Words: 719 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Subsonic

...to attain the same lift - this implies both a longer takeoff roll and a higher true airspeed which must be maintained when airborne to avoid stalling. Density Altitude Computation Chart[1] Density altitude is the altitude relative to the standard atmosphere conditions (ISA) at which the air density would be equal to the indicated air density at the place of obser• The aircraft will climb slower as the result of revation. In other words, density altitude is air density given duced power production and lift. as a height above mean sea level. “Density altitude” can also be considered to be the pressure altitude adjusted for Due to these performance issues, a plane’s takeoff weight non-standard temperature. may need to be lowered or takeoffs may need to be schedBoth an increase in temperature, decrease in atmospheric uled for cooler times of the day. Wind direction and pressure, and, to a much lesser degree, increase in runway slope may need to be taken into account. humidity will cause an increase in density altitude. In hot and humid conditions, the density altitude at a particular...

Words: 1065 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Angles on Water Rocket

...Physics Extended Essay What is the optimum amount of water required to make an angled water rocket fly the furthest? Name-Harjot Singh Gill Age – 16 Candidate Number-#3260-0053 Supervisor Name- Mr George Subject-Physics School-King George V School Word Count-3651 Abstract word count-237 Submission Date- 10th June 2013 Table of Contents Page Number | | 1 | Title Page | 2 | Contents Table | 3 | Abstract and Introduction | 4 | Planning | 5 | Equipment description and setup | 6 | Procedure of experiment | 7 | Variables | 8 | Table showing methods of reading and uncertainties of measure and Analysis | 9 | Analysis | 10 | Analysis | 11 | Analysis | 12 | Table showing uncertainties and errors | 13 | Evaluation and conclusion | 14 | Appendix | 15 | Photo of Apparatus | 16 | Parabolic motion drawing | 17 | Bibliography | Abstract For my extended essay, I decided to conduct an experiment; to find the answer to the following question, what was the optimum amount of water required to make a water rocket travel the furthest? What I did in the experiment was adding an initial amount of water (100 ml) to the rocket and measuring the distance the rocket travelled. After taking down the results I repeated the experiment in an effort to find out which value of water was the optimum amount, required to make it fly the furthest, I came to the conclusion that it was 120 millilitres, which made the rocket fly 25.97 meters. My initial hypothesis...

Words: 3731 - Pages: 15

Free Essay

Hard Work Pays Off

...TermPaperWarehouse.com - Free Term Papers, Essays and Research Documents The Research Paper Factory JoinSearchBrowseSaved Papers Home Page » English and Literature Hard Work Pays In: English and Literature Hard Work Pays Hard Work Pays! May 9th, 2011 was not an ordinary day, but a pay day for the sweat of my studies. It was a day crowned with endless emotions, as I admired my durable and beautiful bracelet watch that ultimately spoke attitude. Featuring a round case, a black rotating bezel with hand crafted plastic link band with a silver double push safety Italian clasp, a stylish Ferrari logo inked in the heart of the minute wheel, finely visible from miles away through the watch’s crystal; meet the Ferrari Electro-Luminescent stylish watch, my precious summer gift from dad. Being my first gift for an exemplary performance in an exam, the Ferrari Electro Luminescent stylish watch has always ignited happiness to my life, as I dance to its ticking sounds generated by the contact of both the transmission and ratchet wheels. Furthermore, it has instilled confidence in me due to its lavish look. Since then, waking up has been the easiest chore of my daily activity, its notorious alarm bells set in the watch having immensely perfected the art of clouding my ear drums for the purpose of annoying my sleep, simply because, time to wake up is time to wake up. Like any ordinary human being rewarded with a perfect gift, having been perturbed by the watch’s superior...

Words: 377 - Pages: 2