Why we should study aerosols

We should study aerosols, tiny pieces of solid and liquid in the air, because of how much humans affect it and it affects climate. By studying aerosols we provide ground based data that adds to satelitte sensing. There are some natural ways that aerosols are put into the atmosphere such as dust in the wind, forest fires, and volcano eruptions. We can track the effect of these natural causes.

Humans put a lot of aerosols in the atmosphere as well. We do this through the daily use cars, power plants, factories, etc..

Clouds get help forming from aerosols. But in the absence of clouds lightabsorption that is not caused by atmospheric gas is from aerosols. Also, sunlight is absorbed and sometimes scattered (this is called atmospheric optics).If you know the angle of the sun and atmospheric pressure, you know the amount of gas between the earth and the sun. Other affects are that aerosols can affect breathing and limit visibility.

All sources are from class notes or can be found on the Webquest Answers blog that has been posted.

Why we should study ozone

 

Ozone protects the earth from ultraviolet light but it has an affect on plant growth. It stunts their ability to absorb to soak carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which also affects humans, who breathe the oxygen that plants make from the carbon dioxide. Ozone is more reactive than even oxygen.  As other chemicals react with it, such as the UV rays it absorbs, ozone basically become a little kid jacked up on sugar. As it goes crazy, it becomes unstable and heats the atmosphere, making it a greenhouse gas. This craziness only lasts a little bit, again just like the jacked up kid who crashes.  

Ozone can also cause many health problems. Coughing, chest pains, congestion and throat irritation are just a few. It can cause damage to lungs and make asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema worse. But ozone doesn’t just affect humans, humans affect it too. We use the vehicles and factories that create the chemical emission.

All sources are class notes or can be found on the Webquest Answers Blog previously posted.

.

Webquest Answers

What is Surface Ozone?

            A.K.A Ground Rising Ozone, Surface Ozone is “chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the presence of sunlight.” (http://www.epa.gov/glo/)

How does surface ozone enable and threaten life on Earth?

            Ozone protects the earth from ultraviolet light from reaching Earth’s surface which benefits plants and animals. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone) Even though surface ozone helps it causes a lot of damage. There are significant reductions in plant growth because ozone affects “their ability to soak up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.” (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070725143612.htm)

How does ozone form?

            Ozone forms through chemical emissions of vehicles, factories, and burning forests. (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070725143612.htm, http://www.epa.gov/glo/)

How does ozone affect health?

            Ozone can cause many health problems including “chest pains, coughing, throat irritation, and congestion.” It can also “worsen bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma”, as well as “reduce lung function and inflame the linings of the lungs. Repeated exposure may permanently scar lung tissue.”

What are aerosols or particulates?

Tiny pieces of solid or liquid in the air    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Particulates  

What is the source of aerosols in the atmosphere?

Some are natural (dust, volcano eruption, forest fires, salt humas cars, power plants, factories)

How do aerosols affect the climate and climate change?

Aerosols help clouds form, scatter (atmospheric optics) and absorb sunlight

How do aerosols affect life on Earth?

Some aerosols are from air pollution and can affect breathing and limit visibility

 

"What's Gonna Work? TEAM WORK!!"

The group that I worked with is one of the best groups I have worked with,    especially in a science class. The things that worked well for us was

·        We all divided the work evenly

·        We all started to work immediately

·        We helped each other on the work done and

·        The power point had input from all of us in it

Even though we worked well as a team there were a few things that could use some work

·        There were times we didn’t know what we were doing

·        We didn’t plan the order of who was to speak first and did that in front of the class

·        There were times it seemed like we were doing nothing because we did laugh and talk alot