- IES - Air Pollution (Lesson)

Air Pollution

Watch the following animation from NASA. Please note, this video is not narrated.

"Tiny solid and liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere are called aerosols. Windblown dust, sea salts, volcanic ash, smoke from wildfires, and pollution from factories are all examples of aerosols. Depending upon their size, type, and location, aerosols can either cool the surface or warm it. They can help clouds to form, or they can inhibit cloud formation. And if inhaled, some aerosols can be harmful to people's health". (NASA)

Air quality has worsened globally in many areas. Over southern Asia, satellite images are revealed a 3 km (2 miles) thick toxic haze of ash, acids, aerosols, dust, and photo-chemical products. This haze regularly covers the entire Indian subcontinent for much of the year. Air pollution no longer is merely a local problem. Mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), DDT, and other long-lasting pollutants travel throughout the atmosphere and accumulate in arctic ecosystems. On some days, as much as 75 percent of the smog and particulate pollution recorded on the west coast of North American can be traced to Asia.

 

RESOURCES IN THIS MODULE ARE OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OER) OR CREATED BY GAVS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. SOME IMAGES USED UNDER SUBSCRIPTION.