Comparing Photochemical Smog in Xian, China and Los Angeles - Prof. R. Balm, Study notes of Geography

Download Comparing Photochemical Smog in Xian, China and Los Angeles - Prof. R. Balm and more Study notes Geography in PDF only on Docsity! 1/3/11  Photochemical smog (ground level ozone) in Xian, china  Los Angeles  Mexico city microclimates- rapid developing  Temperature inversion o Lapse rate of temperatiure in trophosphere- higher up you go colder it is o 3.1F 6 C per 1000 feet o linear relationship gets discontinuous o tends to happen in winter time when ground is cold but sun affects uppear air- insulation. Higher air is warmer o polluted air usually warmer, warm air usually rises o if youhave temperature inversion rises and stops doesn’t spread o fairly rare but dangerous  urban air pollution o predisposing factors  wind flow  sunlight  surrounding topography o contribution factors  temperature inversion o inciting factors(triggers)  high vehicle density  industrial emitters  lack of regulation o indoor pollution from cooking fires- black carbon haze from emissions from cooking fires-  urban microclimates: heat island effect o longitudinal profile of urban heat island  increase in temperature- thermal gradient- city is warmest o infared images of downtown Atlanta  night seems to be glowing warmer at night then out of city o Urban heat island (paris france)  Isolines- average annual isotherms in degrees C o Average annual isotherms London in degrees F  Temperature gradient rises towards urban center  Waste heat from buildings- discount amount of people not significant factor- concrete- keeps the heat because albedo effect  Since 1998 more urban people  Environmental acidification o What scale of measurement is used to gauge acidity levels?  pH levels…. o Why is leaching of metals into lakes and streams linked to acid rain?  o Identify one metal that is particularly injurious to freshwater fish  o Identify one signal of acidification damage that may be detectable in the urban environment  pH – potential hydrogen scale  the loser the number the greater the acidity- unpolluted rainwater is naturally acidic ph 5.65  sources and receptors  wet and dry acid deposition o land profile as you move east…gasses and air usually cannot pass through mountains ..airgoes up to condencetation point and comes down as rain. 2/8/2011  theoretical concepts to ozone depletion exam  what 3 things as a predisposing condition must be present for photochemical smog o sunlight  what surface has lower albeido football field or parking lot o parking lot  aresol moves upwind or downwind o downwind  shorter wavelength UV or infared o UV  What % of insolation reaches ground surface o Around 48-53 percent  Know acidifying acids  Wet and dry acid deposition o Receptors- soil foliage, steel, stone, very acidious in how it is indicated in evironment  Global acidification hotspots o China and India  Sulfate deposition hot spots o Sulfate deposition hotspots may be in wet or dry form o More acid lower the reading  European and north American acidity gradients ph balues o Further west closer to baseline in US 1985 o 1999 not a big difference o soil as sinks where under 4.3  acidity tolerance for aquatic species o 6.0 clams snails o 5.5 mayfly crayfish bass o 5.0 salamander trout