Environmental protection

• The atmosphere of Earth is a layer of gases surrounding the planet Earth that is retained by Earth's gravity. Indeed, Earth’s atmosphere isn’t something we can take for granted, without it, life as we know it wouldn’t exist.
• The atmosphere protects life of Earth by: - it contain the oxygen we need to live. - absorbing ultraviolet solar radiation. - It creates the pressure without which liquid water couldn’t exist on our planet’s surface. - warming the surface through heat retention (greenhouse effect), - It regulate temperature extremes between day and night habitable for our living on earth.
• TROPOSPHERE • It extends from the Earth's surface to an average height of about 12 km (7.5 miles). • Its height is lower at the Earth's poles and higher at the equator. • It is the densest atmospheric layer, compressed by the weight of the atmosphere above.• This is where the majority of aviation takes place, including in the transition area between the troposphere and stratospher
• STRATOSPHERE • Located between about 12 and 50 KM (7.5 and 31 miles) above the Earth's surface. • It is perhaps best known as the home of Earth's ozone layer, which protects us from the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation
• MESOSPHERE • Located between about 50 and 80 km (31 and 50 miles) above the Earth's surface. • As altitude increases, the mesosphere becomes increasingly colder.
• THERMOSPHERE • Located between about 80 and 700 km (50 and 440 miles) above the Earth's surface, the lowest part of which contains the ionosphere. • Due to the very low density of the molecules found here, temperatures rise with altitude.
• EXOSPHERE • Located between about 700 and 10,000 KM (440 and 6,200 miles) above the Earth’s surface. • It is the highest layer of Earth’s atmosphere and, at its top, merges with the solar wind. • Molecules found here are of extremely low density, so this layer doesn’t behave like a gas, and particles escape into space.
• • NB: Aurora is a natural electrical phenomenon characterized by the appearance of reddish or greenish streaks of light in the sky, especially near the north or south magnetic pole. The effect is caused by the interaction of charged particles from the Sun with atoms in the upper atmosphere. In northern and southern regions, it is called Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights and Aurora Australis or Southern Lights, respectively
• seven layers of the earths atmosphere: troposphere stratosphere mesosphere thermosphere ionosphere exosphere
• By volume, the dry air in Earth’s atmosphere is about 78.08% nitrogen, 20.95% oxygen, and 0.93% argon, 0.03% carbon dioxide. Trace gases accounts for the other approximately 0.01%, including the greenhouse gases, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone.
• Aerosols are actually small particles or droplets that float in the air, and it turns out these little particles can have big effects on Earth’s climate. They are emitted by both natural events and human activities. Some aerosols cool the climate, and others have a warming effect.
• Air pollution Any addition of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials to the air that cause harm or discomfort or threatens the health, survival of human and other living organisms or cause contamination or damage to the natural or artificial environment.
• AIR POLLUTANTS

  . Kind of the emitter

  State of matter of emitted pollutants


  Origin of pollutants, as regards the place of emission –

  . Way into which pollutant was given in an atmosphere
• Natural sources:

  Volcanoes– volcanic ashes and gases: CO2, SO2, H2S.

  • Fires of forests, of savannahs, of steppes- CO2, CO, dust.

  • Swamp - CH4, CO2, H2S, NH3

  • Soil and rocks undergoing erosion, sandstorms

  • The green belt from which plant pollens come
• Anthropogenic sources :

  • Energy- burning fuels

  • Industrial- technological processes in chemical plants, refineries, foundry, mines and cement plants

  • Communications -wheeled, water and air motor transport

  • Council- households and collecting and the recycling of waste and sewage (dumps, sewage treatment plants
• SOURCES OF THE RELEASE OF POLLUTANTS

  • Spot – chimney

  • Linear – communications trail

  • Surface – opened container with the volatile substance
• HF (hydrofluor): Emission of fluorine compound is connected with the aluminum production, artificial fertilizers, with action of the glass-making industry and ceramic.
• Effect of individual intoxicants (Sulphur dioxide) – it has an influence on the respiratory tract and vocal cords. Permeating after being absorbed into blood, he is accumulating in walls of the trachea, bronchi, for liver, for spleen, of brain, lymph nodes. Great concentrations are leading for changes in the cornea of the eye
• Effect of Carbon oxide - strongly toxic, causes serious poisonings (asphyxia - carbon monoxide poisoning)
• Effect of Nitric oxide – decreasing the body's resistance to bacterial infections, irritating eyes and the respiratory tract, disturbing breathing, causes allergies (asthma). Precursor of originating in the soil of carcinogenic and mutagenic compounds.
• Effet of Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons - cause sharp and chronic poisonings. In this group a considerable risk constitutes benzopyrene which has carcinogenic properties
• Effect of Heavy metals – are accumulating in the bone marrow, spleen, kidneys, injuring the nervous system, they cause anemia, sleeping disorder, aggressiveness, cancerous changes.
• Effect of Dusts - irritating the cuticle and mucous membranes, upper respiratory tract, pneumoconiosis, lung cancers, allergies, asthma