What creates tropospheric ozone?
Tropospheric, or ground level ozone, is not emitted directly into the air, but is created by chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC).
Is tropospheric ozone a greenhouse gas?
Tropospheric ozone is a particularly difficult greenhouse gas to keep track of, due to its short lifespan and the fact that ozone concentrations can vary hugely from place to place.
Is the precursor of ozone formed in the troposphere?
The majority of tropospheric ozone formation occurs when nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), react in the atmosphere in the presence of sunlight, specifically the UV spectrum. NOx, CO, and VOCs are considered ozone precursors.
Where is tropospheric ozone found?
WHAT IS Tropospheric Ozone? Ozone (O3) is a reactive gas that exists in two layers of the atmosphere: the stratosphere (upper layer) and the troposphere (at ground level and up to 15km). In the stratosphere, ozone protects life on Earth from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation.
What are 4 different sources of particulate matter?
Natural sources of PM include sea salt, dust (airborne soil, also called crustal material), secondary sulphate, pollen, black carbon from wild fires, and volcanic ash.
Is tropospheric ozone harmful?
Tropospheric ozone is a major component of smog, which can worsen bronchitis and emphysema, trigger asthma, and permanently damage lung tissue. Tropospheric ozone exposure is responsible for an estimated one million premature deaths each year.
How is tropospheric ozone different from stratospheric ozone?
The key difference between stratospheric ozone and tropospheric ozone is that stratospheric ozone concentration is very high, whereas tropospheric ozone concentration is low. Moreover, we can distinguish stratospheric ozone from tropospheric ozone by observing the formation of the ozone gas.
Is ozone present in troposphere?
About 10% of atmospheric ozone is in the troposphere, the region closest to Earth (from the surface to about 10–16 kilometers (6–10 miles)). The remaining ozone (about 90%) resides in the stratosphere between the top of the troposphere and about 50 kilometers (31 miles) altitude.
How do VOCs create ozone?
When VOCs are released into the atmosphere, they react with nitrogen oxides (NOx) to create ozone molecules. UV radiation from the sun speeds up the reaction, which is why ground-level ozone production is higher on hot, sunny days.
Why is PM2 5 so harmful?
PM2. 5 (particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter) can penetrate deeply into the lung, irritate and corrode the alveolar wall, and consequently impair lung function.
What is the major source of particulate matter?
Some are emitted directly from a source, such as construction sites, unpaved roads, fields, smokestacks or fires. Most particles form in the atmosphere as a result of complex reactions of chemicals such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which are pollutants emitted from power plants, industries and automobiles.
What is the difference between the stratospheric and tropospheric ozone?
Unlike stratospheric ozone, which forms naturally in the upper atmosphere and protects us from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays, ground-level (or tropospheric) ozone is created through the interactions of man-made (and natural) emissions of volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides in the presence of heat and …