The Effects of Air Pollution on Climate Change

Air pollution is directly related to climate change.

According to Sustainable Business, a report conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency, "Climate Change Indicators in the United States," confirmed that average temperatures across the United States are rising. Since 1990, seven out of the ten warmest years on record have occurred. Air pollution--a leading factor in climate change--both lowers and raises our overall extreme temperature and affects severe weather.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Greenhouse gas emissions are gasses, both natural and manufactured, that trap heat inside of the Earth's atmosphere, contributing to overall climate change. As society has modernized, the air pollution from vehicles, machinery, and industrial plants has greatly increased greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gasses are the four main types of air pollution leading to climate change. When oil, coal, and gas burn, carbon dioxide releases into the air. According to the Environmental protection Agency, CO2 emissions have risen 35 percent since the industrial revolution. Manufacturing fossil fuels releases methane into the air. Nitrous oxide comes primarily from industrial plants. Fluorinated gasses are all synthetic gasses that come from industrial processes.

Particle Pollution

Particle pollution is a mixture of hundreds of physical and liquid chemicals floating in the air. Large particles, such as soot, come from direct sources like construction sites or fires. Fine particles, such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, come from industrial plants and vehicles. According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, particle pollution has both a warming and cooling effect on the environment. Soot has a warming effect, while sulphates and nitrates have a cooling effect.

Ground-Level Ozone

Ozone is a combination of gasses that occurs throughout the atmosphere. When the ozone occurs miles above the Earth's surface, it has a minimal effect directly on the ground-level temperature. However, when the ozone occurs in the lower level of the atmosphere, it leads to smog and air pollution. A chemical reaction between volatile organic compounds (VOCs), oxides, and nitrogen creates ground-level ozone. According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Methane, one of the primary gasses in the ozone, has a direct relation to climate change.

References

• Sustainable Business: EPA Report Tracks 24 Climate Change Indicators
• Environmental Protection Agency: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• UNECE: Air pollution and climate change tackling both problems in tandem
• Environmental Protection Agency: Particulate Matter
• Environmental Protection Agency: Ground-level Ozone