TROPOSPHERIC OZONE: Hong Kong's air tight issue.
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Where does Tropospheric Ozone come from?
Ground-level ozone is one of the major components of photochemical smog and a key health risk linked to breathing problems, asthma, reduced lung function and respiratory diseases. It is a secondary pollutant, meaning that it is not directly emitted. Instead, it is produced when carbon monoxide (CO), methane, or other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are oxidized in the presence of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sunlight. In addition to their role as ozone precursors, CO, VOCs and NOx are dangerous air pollutants themselves. Major sources of NOx and VOCs include emissions from motor vehicle exhaust, industrial facilities, and chemical solvents. Major sources of methane include waste and the fossil fuel and agricultural industry. Aside from its health impacts, tropospheric ozone is a short-lived climate pollutant and one of the most important greenhouse gases.
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Answer the questions below, using the video.
#1 The burning of which fuel is the main source of industrial smog? A. Oil B. Coal C. Natural gas D. Biomass #2 A ___________ haze is associated with industrial smog, while a ___________ haze is associated with photochemical smog. A. Gray, yellowish B. Yellowish, gray #3 Which product of incomplete combustion gives photochemical smog its yellowish color? A. PANs B. Ozone C. VOCs D. Nitrous oxide #4 Common sources of volatile organic compounds include: A. Solvents B. Paints and glue C. Petroleum D. All of the above #5 The two secondary pollutants associated with photochemical smog that cause both eye irritation and potential lung damage are: A. Ozone B. Nitrous oxide C. PANs D. Ozone and PANs E. All of the above #6 Which of these are characteristics of urban areas with high levels of photochemical smog? A. Calm winds, dry weather, sunny, many industries and vehicles B. High winds, wet weather, cloudy, many industries and vehicles C. Located in a basin or surrounded by mountains D. Located in a basin or surrounded by mountains, calm winds, dry weather, sunny, many industries and vehicles E. All of the above #7 Which health issues are exacerbated by exposure to smog? #8 Smog formation will continue to increase as urban growth occurs across the world. Identify three ways to decrease smog formation in areas that are prone to it. #9 Which groups of people are more prone to the breathing difficulties that are associated with smog? |
Worksheet
Game instructions
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How do we measure it and what are the impacts
Measuring the ozone levels indirectly.
Let's do some fieldwork! How does Hong Kong relate to the levels below. We're going to measure indirectly.
Karachi, Pakistan, holds the world’s title for ozone. Of the nearly 300 measurements collected over 1 year, roughly a third exceeded what the researchers considered a “harmful” threshold for ozone, which can lead to smog
Let's do some fieldwork! How does Hong Kong relate to the levels below. We're going to measure indirectly.
Karachi, Pakistan, holds the world’s title for ozone. Of the nearly 300 measurements collected over 1 year, roughly a third exceeded what the researchers considered a “harmful” threshold for ozone, which can lead to smog
In 2015, WHO and OECD estimated that the economic cost of premature death and disability from air pollution in Europe is close to USD 1.6 trillion. Air pollution takes its toll on the economy in several ways: it costs human lives, it reduces people’s ability to work, it affects vital products like food, it damages cultural and historical monuments, it reduces the ability of ecosystems to perform functions societies need and it costs money in remediation or restoration.
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Solving the problem: Air pollution solutions
Practice Questions
Identify 4 sources of atmospheric pollutants in Hong Kong [4] Discuss the impacts of photochemical smog on human populations from a range of social, environmental and economic perspectives. [7] Evaluate a range of air pollution management strategies within a named city. [9] |
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