Chapter 4

UNDERSTANDING THE ATMOSPHERE

Intended Learning Outcomes

1. Identify the different layers of the atmosphere.

2. Discuss classifications of air pollutants.
3. Cite classification of sources of air pollution.
4. Recognize the benefits of the “greenhouse effect” on the Earth’s inhabitants.
5. Discuss the cause and effects of increasing global temperature.

The Atmosphere

The atmosphere is an invisible layer of gases that envelops Earth. It performs several
ecologically important functions such as:

1. It protects the Earth’s surface from UV radiation and lethal amounts of cosmic rays from
space.
2. It allows visible light and some infrared radiation to penetrate the Earth and warm the
surface.

Organisms depend on the atmosphere, but in some circumstances, they modify it. Due to
anthropogenic factors and natural processes, the atmosphere started to deteriorate during
the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century.

Layers of the Atmosphere

The atmosphere is composed of a series of four concentric layers – the troposphere,

stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere.

Figure 12. The Layers of the Atmosphere

http://www.kaheel7.com/userimages/atmosphere-7-layers.JPG

1. Troposphere:
• Altitude extends from 0-12km.
• Closest to Earth’s surface.
• Strongly stirred by wind.
• Weather, including turbulent wind, storms and most clouds occurs here
 • 90% of the Earth’s atmosphere and 99% of the water vapor
• In this layer, temperature decreases with increasing altitude by about -6oC for
every kilometer.
Tropopause – a sharp boundary between troposphere and stratosphere which
restricts the mixing of air between them.

2. Stratosphere:
• Altitude extends to 50km.
• There is steady wind but no turbulence; commercial jets fly here.
• Where the ozone layer is formed that absorbs much of the harmful UV
radiation.
• Air mixing is relatively low; contaminants may remain suspended in this layer
for a long time.
Stratopause – boundary between stratosphere and mesosphere.

3. Mesosphere:
• Altitude extends to 80km.
• Temperature decreases with increasing height to the lowest temperature in
the atmosphere reaching about -138oC.
• The gases in the mesosphere are thick enough to slow down meteorites
plunging into the atmosphere where they burn up from friction with air
molecules.
Mesopause – boundary between mesosphere and thermosphere.

4. Thermosphere
• Altitude extends to 480km.
• Extremely hot; characterized by a very high temperature because this layer is
constantly bombarded with solar cosmic radiation reaching for about 1000 oC
or more.
• It reflects radio waves back to Earth without the aid of satellites.
• The Aurora, a colorful display of lights in the dark polar skies is produced
when charged particles from the Sun hit oxygen or nitrogen molecules in the
thermosphere.
Thermopause – boundary between thermosphere and exosphere.

5. Exosphere
• Outermost layer of the atmosphere.
• Extends to 10,000km above the Earth.
• Atoms and molecules escape into space and satellites orbit the Earth.

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Chemical Composition of the Atmosphere

✓ 78% - Nitrogen
✓ 21% - Oxygen
✓ 0.93% - Argon
✓ 0.03% - Carbon dioxide
✓ 0.01% - other gases such as neon, helium, krypton, hydrogen etc.
✓ Water vapor (depending on the temperature, precipitation, rate of evaporation and
other factors)

Air pollution – is an undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics

of air.
Air pollutants – are the substances which pollute the air.

Classification of Air Pollutants

A. Based on Chemical Composition

1. S-containing compounds: volatile compound produced by algae and bacteria in
seawater such as methyl sulfide, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide and sulfates.
2. N-containing compounds: include nitrous oxide, nitrogen oxide, nitrogen dioxide,
ammonia, nitrates, nitrites and gas that can be derived from natural sources like
bacterial action in the soil and through chemical reactions in the upper layers of the
atmosphere.
3. C-containing compounds: these include carbon dioxide and organic solvents.
4. Halogen compounds: these include the chloroflourinated carbons in the ozone layer,
the naturally occurring methyl chloride, methyl bromide and methyl iodine from the
ocean.

B. Based on the Way of Formation

6. Primary Pollutants – pollutants that are emitted directly from the source to the
atmosphere. Sources: volcanic eruption, smokestacks of factories, automobiles.
7. Secondary Pollutants – are those formed in the atmosphere by chemical interactions
among the primary pollutants and normal atmospheric conditions.

C. Based on Physical State

8. Gas: exist in the form such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and
others.
9. Liquid or Aqueous: exist in the form such as sulfuric acid or nitric acid.
10. Solid: exists in suspended particulate matter like dust, asbestos, lead, chromium and
arsenic.

Six Major Air Pollutants

1. Ozone – ground level or “bad” ozone is not emitted directly into the air but is created
by chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic
compounds (VOC) in the presence of sunlight.
- Emissions from industrial facilities and electric utilities, motor vehicle exhaust,
gasoline vapors and chemical solvents are some of the major sources of NOx and VOC.

2. Particulate Matter – also known as particle pollution or PM

- complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets.

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 - potential for causing health problems (lung diseases).

1. “Inhalable coarse particles”, those are found near roadways and dusty industries.
2. “Fine particles”, those found in smoke and haze (forest fires, from power plants,
etc.)

3. Carbon monoxide – is colorless, odorless gas emitted from combustion processes.

- the majority of CO emissions to ambient air come from mobile sources.
- can cause harmful health effects by reducing oxygen delivery (heart and brain).
- high level = DEATH

4. Nitrogen oxides – group of highly reactive gasses known as “nitrogen oxides” (NOx).
- from emissions from cars, trucks and buses, power plants and off-road equipment
- effects on respiratory system

5. Sulfur dioxide - group of highly reactive gasses known as “sulfur oxides”.

- emissions are from fossil fuel combustion at power plants (73%) and industrial facilities
(20%)
- smaller sources: industrial processes (extracting metal from ore, burning of high sulfur
containing fuels).
- effects on respiratory system

6. Lead – metal found naturally in the environment as well as in manufactured products.

- major sources are fuels in on-road motor vehicles (cars and trucks) and industrial
sources

In the US, the Clean Air Act requires EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) to set
National Ambient Air Quality Standards for six common air pollutants. The set of limits based
on human health is called primary standards. Another set of limits intended to prevent
environmental and property damage is called secondary standards.

Sources of Air Pollution

1. Natural Sources – wildfires, dust storms and volcanic activity.

2. Industrial Sources – purification of ores.
3. Power generation – from fossil-fuel based power plants.
4. Transportation – pollutants emitted by road vehicles.
5. Domestic Sources – use coal for cooking, burning of garden and domestic wastes.
6. Agriculture – manure (from the animal houses, manure storage areas or form land after
the manure is applied) emits gasses like ammonia in the air.
- In crop production, the misapplication of fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides can result
in aerial drift of these materials and harm may cause.
7. Waste Disposal Facilities – landfill.

Anthropogenic Activities that Causes Air Pollution

1. Burning of domestic wastes and use of coals in cooking.

2. Exhaust gases emitted by motor vehicles which pollute the air are the major source of air
pollution in big cities.
3. Industries pollute air by releasing various types of pollutants.
4. Use of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture.

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5. Mining activities releases particulate matter into the air.
6. INDISCRIMINATE cutting of trees and clearing of forests increases the amount of carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere and thereby pollutes it.
7. Use of chlorofluorocarbons in refrigeration, fire extinguishers and aerosol sprayers pollute
air by depleting the ozone layer.
8. Smoking pollutes air by emitting carbon monoxide and nicotine.

Air Pollution Control

1. Conserve energy and use alternative sources of energy.

2. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle (3Rs).
3. Buy Smart.
4. Drive Wise.
5. PARTICIPATE in environmental awareness campaigns.

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Activity 17: Review

Read and analyze the statement carefully. Select the correct answer and write the letter of
your chosen option in the space provided before each item.

a. troposphere e. tropopause
b. stratosphere f. stratopause
c. mesosphere g. mesopause
d. thermosphere

______1. The aurora lights may be displayed in this layer of the atmosphere.

______2. Contains layer of ozone that absorbs much of the harmful UV radiation.

______3. Meteors burn up in this layer of the atmosphere.

______4. Altitude extends to 80km.

______5. Boundary between mesosphere and stratosphere.

______6. Boundary between stratosphere and troposphere which restricts the mixing of air
between them.

______7. This is where weather occurs.

______8. Contaminants may remain suspended in this layer for a long time.

______9. Boundary between mesosphere and thermosphere.

______10. Constantly bombarded with solar cosmic radiation reaching for about 1000 oC or
more.

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Activity 18: Air Pollution

Answer the following briefly and direct to the point.

1. Give examples of Air Pollution from the following sources:

a. Natural sources

b. Industrial Sources

c. Power Generation

d. Domestic Sources

e. Agriculture

2. Give 3 classifications of Air pollution and explain each one.

3. What activities do you do at your home that may contribute to air pollution? Enumerate 5
examples.

4. Now that you are aware of its consequences, what activities can you do to lessen your
contribution to air pollution? Give at least 5 examples.

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Global Temperature

Over the past 50 years the average global temperature has increased at the fastest rate in
recorded history. To understand just how quickly global warming is accelerating, consider this:

• During the entire 20th century, the average global temperature increased about 0.6
degrees Celsius (slightly more than 1-degree Fahrenheit).
• Using computer climate models, scientist estimate that by the year 2100 the average
global temperature will increase by 1.4 degrees to 5.8 degrees Celsius (approximately
2.5 to 10.5 degrees Fahrenheit).

Table 3. Global Land and Ocean Temperature Anomalies

https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/monitoring-content/sotc/global/2020/jan/global-land-ocean-anomalies-202001.png

The global land and ocean surface temperature for January 2020 was the highest in the 141-
year record, with a temperature departure from average of 1.14°C (2.05°F) above the 20th
century average. This value was only 0.02°C (0.04°F) higher than the now second highest
January temperature departure from average set in 2016. The four warmest Januaries on
record have occurred since 2016, while the 10 warmest Januaries have occurred since 2002.
The only Januaries with a global land and ocean surface temperature departure from average
above 1.0°C (1.8°F) occurred in 2016 and 2020.

This increase in the global temperature would lead to significant climate and weather changes
and long-term effects like rising sea levels, flooding, melting of polar ice caps and glaciers,
fluctuations in temperature and precipitation, more frequent El Ninos and La Ninas, waves
and forest fires.

Greenhouse Effects

The Earth is a remarkable planet. It is close enough to the sun to receive sustainable energy,
but far enough not to be scorched. It is a place where conditions are exactly right to life as we
know it. To help keep these conditions exactly right, our planet is wrapped in a layer of

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“greenhouse gases” – gases that trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere. This layer keeps the
globe warm like a blanket, shielding it from the cold universe.

Figure 13. Greenhouse Effect

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/9c/64/ff/9c64ff4b3fd67a5fab7f8e0b3ead5e18.png

Without the energy from the sun, life here on earth would not be possible. About 30 percent
of the sunlight that beams toward Earth is deflected by the outer atmosphere and scattered
back into space. The rest reaches the planet’s surface and is reflected upward again as a type
of slow-moving energy called infrared radiation.

The heat caused by infrared radiation is absorbed by greenhouse gases (GHG’s) such as water
vapor, carbon dioxide, ozone, methane and nitrous oxide, which slows its escape from the
atmosphere. They regulate our climate by trapping heat and holding it in a kind of warm-air
blanket that surrounds the planet. This phenomenon is what scientists call the “greenhouse
effect”. Without it, scientists estimate that the average temperature on Earth would be colder
by approximately 30 degrees Celsius (54 degrees Fahrenheit), far too cold to sustain our
current ecosystem.

Water vapor is the most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. As the Earth’s
atmosphere warms, water evaporates faaster than the oceans and ground sources, which in
turn heats up the atmosphere further and continues the cycle. Carbon dioxide (CO 2) is the
next most abundant gas, followed by methane and nitrous oxide.

Global Warming

While the greenhouse effect is an environmental necessity for life on Earth, the problems
begin when human activities distort and accelerate the natural process by creating more
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere than are necessary to warm the planet to an ideal
temperature.

Greenhouse gas emissions are rising more rapidly than predicted and the world is warming
more quickly in response. The present warming is generally attributed to an increase in the

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greenhouse effect, brought about by increased levels of greenhouse gases, largely because of
human industry and agriculture. This warming is referred to as Global warming. The U.S.
Environmental Agency (EPA) defines global warming as an “average increase in the
temperature at the atmosphere near the Earth’s surface and in the troposphere, which can
contribute to changes in global climate patterns”. Global warming also often refers to the
warming that can occur as a result of increased emissions of greenhouse gases from human
activities.

Causes of Global Warming

1. Carbon Dioxide emissions from fossil fuel burning power plants. At present, the level
of CO2 in the atmosphere is increasing by more than 10 percent every 20 years and
accounts for more than 60 percent of the greenhouse effect. 40 percent of the coal
burning power plants release enormous amounts of CO2 is in the U.S. alone, and
burning coal accounts for 93 percent of emissions from the electricity utility industry.

2. Methane emission from fossil fuel mining, livestock, landfills and from Artic sea beds.
• Methane is released whenever fossil fuels are extracted from the Earth
whether it is natural gas (which is mostly methane), coal or oil.
• Animals like cows, sheep and goats create methane during normal digestion
process, and produces methane as by-product. The second way that livestock
create methane emissions is from their manure.
• Methane is also produced when organic material decomposes anaerobically
(without oxygen) such as rice paddies.
• Most landfills are composed of municipal waste and therefore produces
methane. Landfills are the largest source of anthropogenic methane
emissions in the U.S.
• There are also large amounts of methane trapped in the crystal structure of
ice, and as it escapes from the Artic seabed, the rate of global warming will
increase significantly.

3. Deforestation. Forests remove and store CO2 from the atmosphere. Massive
deforestation releases large amount as well as reducing the amount of CO 2 in the
planet.

4. Increase in the use of chemical fertilizers on croplands. The use of nitrogen-rich

chemical fertilizers has replaced the traditional use of animal manure. Scientific study
determined fertilizer use to be a major source of nitrous oxide emissions.

Effects of Global Warming

1. More powerful and dangerous hurricanes

2. Droughts and Wildfire
3. Intense rainstorms
4. Deadly heat waves
5. Allergy and Asthma. (higher levels of Co2 induces the growth of weeds whose pollen
triggers allergies and exacerbates asthma).
6. Infectious disease outbreaks. (malaria and dengue fever is mainly because of the
expansion of the infested areas of vector mosquitoes and increase in the number and
feeding activity of infected mosquitoes).

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 7. Ecosystem shifts and Species die-off. (increasing global temperatures are expected to
change the ecosystems, pushing to extinction those species that cannot adapt).
8. Melting glaciers, early ice thaw.

Ways to stop Global Warming

1. Reduce the usage of electrical appliances which emits greenhouse gases.

2. Buy energy efficient appliances.
3. Follow the 3Rs.
4. Don’t burn garbage.
5. Plant a tree.
6. Eat locally produced food.
7. Walk, ride a bike or carpool on your way to work.
8. Choose clean energy options.
9. Conserve water.
10. Cover cooking utensils when cooking.
11. Teach family and friends about the cause and impact of global warming and methods
to reduce it.

References

Agsalud, Priscilla Signey L., et al. 2013. Environmental Science. Malabon City: Jimczyville
Publications.

Bentillo, Eulalia N., et al. 2004. Science and Technology Textbook for Fourth Year. Quezon
City: Book Media Press, Inc. 2004. Teacher’s Guide, Science and Technology Textbook for
Fourth Year. Quezon City: Book Media Press, Inc.

Magno, Marcelita C., et al. 2009. Science and Technology Textbook for Third Year. Quezon
City: Vibal Publishing House, Inc.

Global Climate Report - January 2020. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/202001

United Nations Climate Change. https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-kyoto-

protocol/what-is-the-kyoto-protocol/kyoto-protocol-targets-for-the-first-commitment-
period

http://factsnme.com/know-greenhouse-effect/

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Activity 19: Comprehension

Answer the following briefly and direct to the point.

1. In your everyday life, how do you contribute to global warming?

2. Research Kyoto Protocol and write a brief summary.

3. Did Kyoto Protocol work?

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