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April 1, 20136:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Eastern time

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

Presented by: Michael Tinnesand, Ginger Butcher, and Bryan Duncan

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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

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Los Angeles 1943

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

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What do you think was the main ingredient in the LA smog?

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

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 above7

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 above8

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

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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

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The first piece to the puzzle

Arie “Haagy” Haagen-Smit – an organic chemist from the NetherlandsLA smog smelled different, it had a bleach-like odorApplied techniques he used to study pineapple flavor to test the composition of smog

Aire Haagen-Smit

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Unraveling the Mystery-Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

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Sources of VOCs in LA air

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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 tailpipesB. Particulate matter (soot) and sunlight C. Sulfuric acid and nitrogen oxidesD. Sunlight, nitrogen oxides, and VOCsE. VOCs and nitrogen oxides

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Answer D

A. Un-combusted gasoline fumes from tailpipesB. Particulate matter (soot) and sunlight C. Sulfuric acid and nitrogen oxidesD. Sunlight, nitrogen oxides, and VOCsE. VOC’s and Nitrogen oxides

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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.

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All the pieces of the puzzle!

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Bad Ozone

EPA map of Air Quality on August 12, 2002. The air in many parts of the U.S. frequently contains unhealthy concentrations of ozone.

Overall, how has the quality of the earth’s air changed over the past 10 years in the US?

A. Getting betterB. Staying the sameC. Getting worseD. I don’t know

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Answer: A It’s getting better

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Answer: A It’s getting better

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The LA Smog Story

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Air Quality Improving Globally

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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

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Catalytic Converters

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Measuring Ground Level Ozone: Schoenbein Paper

Lab Activity

Photo credit: University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

ChemMatters Magazine, Vol. 20 Special Issue #1, September 2002

First Reaction2KI + 03 + H2O ➞ 2KOH + O2 + I2

Second ReactionI2 + starch ➞ blue complex

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Ozone Attack

http://www.ucar.edu/learn/1_7_2_28t.htm

Lab Activity

Source: University Center for AtmosphericResearch (UCAR)

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The Story of Good Ozone

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Ozone in the Stratosphere

Natural creation of ozone in the stratosphere

Natural destruction of ozone in the stratosphere

O + O3 2 O2

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What are the Ozone-Destroying Chemicals? Part 1

Chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs

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What are the Ozone-Destroying Chemicals? Part 2

Release of chlorine from reservoir gases

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What are the Ozone-Destroying Chemicals? Part 3

The Catalytic Cycle

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Seasonal Changes In the Ozone Hole

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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 2020B. By 2040C. By 2080

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AnswerIf 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 2020B. By 2040C. By 2080

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A Frightening Scenario:The World Avoided

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Montreal Protocols

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Destruction of theOzone Layer

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When do scientists expect global ozone to return to levels of 300 du?

A. In 10-20 yearsB. In 40-50 yearsC. In more than 70 years

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When do scientists expect global ozone to return to levels of 300 du?

A. In 10-20 yearsB. In 40-50 yearsC. In more than 70 years

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The World Avoided cont.

“We simulated a world avoided, and it’s a world we should be glad we avoided.”-NASA Scientist Paul Newman

with protocol without protocol

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AURA Collecting Data

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Labs with UV Beads: The Stanford Solar Center

Lab - Consumer Watchdogs: Sunscreens/Sunglasses

Lab – Developing a UV Rating System

http://solar-center.stanford.edu/activities/uv.html

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REEL Science Contest

Ozone in the Stratosphere

Ship Tracks and ourEnvironment

The Water of the Water Planet

http://aura.gsfc.nasa.gov/reelscience.html

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Annotated Bibliography• ACS Education Division acs.org/education

• NASA Scientific Visualization Studio http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/index.html

• The Stanford Solar Center http://solar-center.stanford.edu/activities/uv.html

• ChemMatters Magazine and ChemMatters AURA podcast www.acs.org/chemmatters

• Ozone Hole Poster http://aura.gsfc.nasa.gov/ozoneholeposter/

• Ozone Watch http://ozonewatch.gsfc.nasa.gov

Thanks to today’s presenters!

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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

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