Page 142 - Science Course 1 (Book 2)

Mo9-L6b: Why Do We Monitor Air Quality?

Movement of Air Pollution
Mo9-L6b Why Do We Monitor Air Quality?

Because air carries pollution with it, some wind
KEY CONCEPTS: patterns cause more pollution problems than others.
1. Why do humans monitor air quality standards?

Vocabulary A-Z

Let us learn some vocabulary

particulate matter
the mix of both solid and liquid particles in the air.

Weak winds or no wind prevents pollution from
mixing with the surrounding air, which can create
high pollution levels and dangerous conditions.

At night, cool air sinks down the mountain sides,
trapping pollution in the valley below.
Let’s Begin

Cold Air
Particulate Pollution

Particulate matter is a mixture of dust, acids, and 3 Warm Air 2
other chemicals that can be hazardous to human
health. Cold Air

1

1. Lands cools quickly at night. Air near the ground
cools, while air farther above the surface
remains warm. Calm winds prevent the mixing
of two layers.

2. Cool air sinks down the sides of the mountain,
preventing further mixing between layers of air.

3. Pollution in the air is trapped close to Earth’s
surface.

Particulate matter in the atmosphere absorbs and
scatters sunlight, which can create haze.

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