Egee Exam 2 Outline Lesson 4A Fossil Fuels and Products of Combustion Coal Natural Gas Petroleum Oil Fossil Fuels are hydrocarbons comprised of carbon and hydrogen and sulfur nitrogen oxygen and mineral matter turns into ash when burnt Liquid has more hydrogen than coal elements stay the same while the amounts and compositions change Combustion rapid oxidation of the fossil fuel s elements from heat Products of Combustion Hydrocarbon may not completely burn during combustion some may be released into the atmosphere with the products that are formed during the combustion 1 Carbon Dioxide CO2 4 Nitrogen Oxide N2O Carbon Dioxide CO2 2 Carbon Monoxide CO 5 Lead Pb 3 Sulfur Dioxide SO2 6 Particulate Matter Principle product of combustion of fossil fuels since it accounts for 60 90 of the fuel s mass China is emits the most of CO2 8300m in 2010 compared to 5600m in US past two decades Most CO2 emissions come from Petroleum 42 and Coal 35 Natural Gas 23 Not harmful to our health but is a greenhouse gas it absorbs escaping infrared radiation which leads to global warming contribute to the climate change Carbon Monoxide CO Sulfur Dioxide SO2 Nitrogen Oxides NOx Colorless and odorless gas when carbon in fuel is not burned completely Mostly from on road vehicles and motor exhausts 55 while constructions and boats 22 High levels of CO occur in heavy traffic congestion areas CO can be poisonous visual impairment work incapability reduced manual skills poor learning and difficulty in performing complex tasks Mostly found in ambient air is dangerous to those with cardiovascular disease such as angina pectoris Hemoglobin is reduced to transport Oxygen when it reacts with CO which reduces oxygen supply to the body s organs tissues SO2 is in the Sulfur Oxide SOx Family They easily dissolve in water Commonly found in all raw materials such as coal crude oil and ores that contains metals such as aluminum and copper SOx gas is formed when sulfur fuel like coal and oil or gas extracted from oil metals extracted from ore is burned SO2 dissolves in water vapor and forms acid and interacts with other particles in the air to form sulfates and more to harm people and the environment Short term exposure breathing impairment to asthma chest tightness wheezing Long term exposure with high PM worsen cardiovascular disease respiratory illness lungs SO2 and NOx are the major components of acidic rain that acidifies soil lake leading to corrosions Group of highly reactive gases that contain nitrogen and oxygen mostly colorless and odorless NOx forms when fuel is burned at high temperatures mainly for motor vehicles and electricity NO2 is a common pollutant that can be seen in a reddish brown layer over urban areas Most of emissions are in form of NO short term exposure Lungs long term exposure respiratory infection lungs and visibility impairment Increased nitrogen negatively affects ecosystems and plant species composition and soil 1 Egee Exam 2 Outline Lead Pb Metal processing in motor vehicles and industrial sources is the major lead emission in air today highest levels of lead in air is found near lead smelters and waste incinerators Lead is used to make glass rubber paint batteries plumbing X Ray protective shields Accumulates in blood and bones and affects the kidneys liver nervous system and other organs May cause seizures behavioral disorder lowered IQ high blood pressure may be ingested L Particulate Matter PM A mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in air dust and dirt Sizes PM 10 refers to all particles less than or equal to 10 micrometers in diameter gets into lungs Fine PM 2 5 particles less than or equal to 2 5 m after SO2 Coarse Fraction particles greater than 2 5 m and smaller than 10 m aggravating lung problems and asthma and heart attacks PM 2 m does not go beyond nasal cavity or trachea PM 0 1 m deposits in tracheobronchia removed when exhaling 0 1 m PM 2 m goes deep into the lung and settles in bronchioles or alveolar sacs PM can reduce visibility PM can be emitted directly or formed in atmosphere Sources Primary Coarse formed from combustion and emitted directly into atmosphere dust Secondary Fine formed in the atmosphere from primary gaseous emissions sulfates from SO2 emissions nitrates from NOx emission Secondary Pollutants Formed when primary pollutants combine with other reactants ozone when hydrocarbons are emitted and react with NOx in presence of sunlight ozone is a poisonous gas but also acts as a protective shield against UV radiation in earth s atmosphere Lesson 4B Global and Regional Effects of Secondary Pollutants If more energy comes in than the energy going out the planet will become warm Greenhouse effect Current CO2 level 392 ppm in 2011 The greenhouse effect is bad because for now it s okay but if the concentration goes up and the temperature goes up the effects could be potentially devastating CO2 31 CO2 accounts for 82 of total greenhouse emissions methane 9 and NO 5 Atmospheric lifetime The period of time which a gas changes and is either transformed or removed from the atmosphere GWP an index as the cumulative radioactive forcing a simple measure of the relative radioactive effects of different greenhouse gases In 1870 CO2 concentration was about 270 ppm In 1994 CO2 concentration was about 370 There has been a rapid increase in CO2 concentration since the start of industrialization The mean increase in global temperature over the past century is 1 F since 1880 Methane CH4 151 N2O 17 2 Egee Exam 2 Outline Temperature change is natural and cyclical There is a correlation between CO2 and temperature The increase is the result of human activity Global Warming Sun spots intense flares on the surface can increase the radiation from the sun the increase in solar activity occurs over an 11 year cycle Known for certain human activities change the earth s atmosphere Likely greenhouse gases contribute to global warming few factors impact temperature clouds oceans and global warming affects health water polar regions etc Uncertain long term effects of global warming especially for smaller areas Likely Factors that affect the Earth s temperature Clouds low thick clouds solar radiation and cool surface of the Earth high thin clouds trap outgoing infrared radiation and warm the earth depends on the height size and make up of particles of the cloud predominate coolings Fine particles aerosols significant local or regional impact on temperatures Oceans most incoming