Solving the Smog Puzzle on Earth and from Space: Good vs. Bad Ozone

Transcription

1 LIVE INTERACTIVE YOUR DESKTOP Solving the Smog Puzzle on Earth and from Space: Good vs. Bad Ozone Presented by: Michael Tinnesand, Ginger Butcher, and Bryan Duncan April 1, :30 p.m. 8:00 p.m. Eastern time 1

2 2

3 NSTA Learning Center 10,600+ resources 3,700+ free! Add to My Library to access later Community forums Online advisors to assist you Tools to plan and document your learning 3

4 Introducing today s presenters Michael Tinnesand Retired high school chemistry teacher Former Associate Director, ACS Education Division Ginger Butcher Education lead, NASA s Aura Mission Author of NASA educational publications about the Electromagnetic Spectrum and Earth Science Bryan Duncan Deputy Project Scientist, NASA s Aura Mission Studies air pollution around the globe using data collected by instruments on the Aura satellite 4

5 5

6 Los Angeles 1943 Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Times Collection, Department of Special Collections, UCLA Library 6

7 What do you think was the main ingredient in the LA smog? A. Secret gas warfare attack from Axis spies B. Particulate matter from backyard trash burning C. Pollution from local rubber factory manufacturing rubber for the war effort D. Smoke from burning coal for heating Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Times Collection, Department of Special Collections, UCLA Library E. None of the above 7

8 Answer: None of the above Photo courtesy Creative Commons 2.5 A. Secret gas warfare attack from Axis spies B. Particulate matter from backyard trash burning C. Pollution from local rubber factory manufacturing rubber for the war effort D. Smoke from burning coal for heating E. None of the above 8

9 SMOG = smoke + fog Smog is a catch-all word for a mix of pollutants London-type smog contained Sulfur oxides Soot & ash (particulate matter) Sulfuric acid 1952 London Fog Credit: N T Stobbs, Creative Commons License 9

10 Something different about Los Angeles smog Unlike smog from coal, LA smog caused: Deterioration of rubber Damage to plants Damage to black cherry tree leaves 10

11 The first piece to the puzzle Arie Haagy Haagen-Smit an organic chemist from the Netherlands LA smog smelled different, it had a bleach-like odor Applied techniques he used to study pineapple flavor to test the composition of smog Aire Haagen-Smit 11

12 Unraveling the Mystery- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) 12

13 Sources of VOCs in LA air 13

14 In Haagy s experiments, he used ozone to oxidize VOCs in the lab, but what was the oxidizing agent in the LA air? If it was indeed ozone, how was this powerful oxidant being produced in the air? A. Un-combusted gasoline fumes from tailpipes B. Particulate matter (soot) and sunlight C. Sulfuric acid and nitrogen oxides D. Sunlight, nitrogen oxides, and VOCs E. VOCs and nitrogen oxides 14

15 Answer D A. Un-combusted gasoline fumes from tailpipes B. Particulate matter (soot) and sunlight C. Sulfuric acid and nitrogen oxides D. Sunlight, nitrogen oxides, and VOCs E. VOC s and Nitrogen oxides 15

16 NOx is the other piece of the puzzle. The first reaction happens inside a car engine as it runs. At high temperature, nitrogen reacts with oxygen like this: N2 + O2 2 NO Once released from the exhaust, the NO can react with gases in the air to produce NO2: NO NO2 This mix of NO and NO2 is called NOx. 16

17 All the pieces of the puzzle! 17

18 Bad Ozone EPA map of Air Quality on August 12, The air in many parts of the U.S. frequently contains unhealthy concentrations of ozone. 18

19 Overall, how has the quality of the earth s air changed over the past 10 years in the US? A. Getting better B. Staying the same C. Getting worse D. I don t know 19

20 Answer: A It s getting better 20

21 Answer: A It s getting better 21

22 The LA Smog Story 22

23 Air Quality Improving Globally 23

24 Taming the culprits of smog Reduce VOCs and NOx Regulations - eventually leading to 1970 Clean Air Act Gasoline pump sleeves - reduce escaping VOCs More efficient engines - more complete combustion Reformulating gasoline - burns more efficiently Technology - e.g., catalytic converters 24

25 Catalytic Converters 25

26 Measuring Ground Level Ozone: Schoenbein Paper Lab Activity First Reaction 2KI H2O 2KOH + O2 + I2 Second Reaction I2 + starch blue complex Photo credit: University Corporation for Atmospheric Research ChemMatters Magazine, Vol. 20 Special Issue #1, September

27 Ozone Attack Lab Activity Source: University Center for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) 27

28 The Story of Good Ozone 28

29 Ozone in the Stratosphere Natural creation of ozone in the stratosphere Natural destruction of ozone in the stratosphere O + O 3 2 O 2 29

30 What are the Ozone- Destroying Chemicals? Part 1 Chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs 30

31 What are the Ozone- Destroying Chemicals? Part 2 Release of chlorine from reservoir gases 31

32 What are the Ozone- Destroying Chemicals? Part 3 The Catalytic Cycle 32

33 Seasonal Changes In the Ozone Hole 33

34 If humans continued to release more and more ozone depleting substances into the atmosphere, how long do you think it would take for ozone to deplete to harmful levels around the globe? A. By 2020 B. By 2040 C. By

35 Answer If humans continued to release more and more ozone depleting substances into the atmosphere, how long do you think it would take for ozone to deplete to harmful levels around the globe? A. By 2020 B. By 2040 C. By

36 A Frightening Scenario: The World Avoided 36

37 Montreal Protocols 37

38 Destruction of the Ozone Layer 38

39 When do scientists expect global ozone to return to levels of 300 du? A. In years B. In years C. In more than 70 years 39

40 When do scientists expect global ozone to return to levels of 300 du? A. In years B. In years C. In more than 70 years 40

41 The World Avoided cont. with protocol without protocol We simulated a world avoided, and it s a world we should be glad we avoided. -NASA Scientist Paul Newman 41

42 AURA Collecting Data 42

43 Labs with UV Beads: The Stanford Solar Center Lab - Consumer Watchdogs: Sunscreens/Sunglasses Lab Developing a UV Rating System 43

44 REEL Science Contest Ship Tracks and our Environment Ozone in the Stratosphere The Water of the Water Planet 44

45 Annotated Bibliography ACS Education Division acs.org/education NASA Scientific Visualization Studio The Stanford Solar Center ChemMatters Magazine and ChemMatters AURA podcast Ozone Hole Poster Ozone Watch 45

46 Thanks to today s presenters! Michael Tinnesand Retired high school chemistry teacher Former Associate Director, ACS Education Division Ginger Butcher Education lead, NASA s Aura Mission Author of NASA educational publications about the Electromagnetic Spectrum and Earth Science Bryan Duncan Deputy Project Scientist, NASA s Aura Mission Studies air pollution around the globe using data collected by instruments on the Aura satellite 46

47 Thank you to the sponsor of tonight s web seminar: 47 This web seminar contains information about programs, products, and services offered by third parties, as well as links to third-party websites. The presence of a listing or such information does not constitute an endorsement by NSTA of a particular company or organization, or its programs, products, or services.

48 National Science Teachers Association David Evans, Ph.D., Executive Director Zipporah Miller, Associate Executive Director, Conferences and Programs NSTA Web Seminar Team Al Byers, Ph.D., Assistant Executive Director, e-learning and Government Partnerships Brynn Slate, Manager, Web Seminars, Online Short Courses, and Symposia Jeff Layman, Technical Coordinator, Web Seminars, SciGuides, and Help Desk 48