31. The Two Ozone Problems

The Atmosphere, the Ocean and Environmental Change (GG 140)

There are two ozone problems in the atmosphere. Tropospheric ozone in the form of photochemical smog is sometimes dangerously high whereas stratospheric ozone concentration is sometimes dangerously low. Photochemical smog is created through chemical reactions between UV radiation from the run and nitrogen oxides that are emitted from automobiles. High concentrations of tropospheric ozone are dangerous because of the damage ozone can cause to a person's airway if it is inhaled. The EPA has specified limits of ozone concentration but several counties in the USA exceed these limits. The primary air pollutants from which ozone is created have a peak concentration twice a day typically, which is associated with rush hour times during the day.

00:00 - Chapter 1. Air Pollutants
06:05 - Chapter 2. Two Ozone Problems
07:08 - Chapter 3. Ozone Properties
11:20 - Chapter 4. Photochemical Smog
15:16 - Chapter 5. Ozone Concentration Limits
25:10 - Chapter 6. Creation of Ozone Pollution
26:41 - Chapter 7. Primary Pollutants

Complete course materials are available at the Open Yale Courses website: http://oyc.yale.edu

This course was recorded in Fall 2011.