Air pollution, and the global warming that ensues, are hotly debated in not only science, but politics. As such, climate models have been created in order to predict future conditions: including how air pollution plays into it. The physics of this technology ranges from simple laws to complex concepts that are difficult to grasp. However, reading the models is easy enough to understand, and they are pivotal in interpreting data revolving around air pollution. Thus, the advancement of climate models (and the physics that surround it) are vital to better understand what the future holds in regards to air pollution and global warming.
The physics of climate models revolves around three types of physics which make it easier to understand how …show more content…
The goal of these climate projections is to inform policy makers, not scientists, about dangers that can affect earth’s balance. These models convey how “air masses, water, energy, and momentum...explain the climate system’s large-scale features, variability, and response to external pressures” (Schmidt). It is also important to note that climate models are drastically different than weather forecasts. Weather forecasts are “chaotic” and work on a day-to-day basis, whereas climate projections require observation over a long period of time. With this in mind, there are three types of physics that go into creating climate models: fundamental principles, well known theories, and mathematical formulas. The conservation of energy, momentum, and mass, as well as orbital mechanics are good examples of the fundamental principles, while the transfer of radiation and Navier-Stokes equation of of fluid motion are good representations of the second form; finally, “formulas for evaporation as a function of wind speed and humidity” are prime examples for the third …show more content…
First, air pollution results from the addition of gases, solids, and liquids to the atmosphere. It can be both natural, (I.e., pollen, decomposing organic matter, and particles from active volcanoes) and man-made (I.e., emissions from cars, industrial by-products) (Harris). Once in the air, pollutants are impossible to control. Because of this and air currents, emissions at the local level still contribute to global air pollution problems. These emissions are abundant, but most are associated with burning fossil fuels and oil-based products. Two examples of air pollution include: smog and acid rain.
Smog and acid rain are two simpler examples of air pollution to help communicate the general idea of it. Smog is a product of chemical reactions between two or more substances in the atmosphere that create secondary pollutants (Harris). Despite the atmosphere’s self-cleansing mechanisms, However, these pale in comparison to the greenhouse
The physics of climate models revolves around three types of physics which make it easier to understand how …show more content…
The goal of these climate projections is to inform policy makers, not scientists, about dangers that can affect earth’s balance. These models convey how “air masses, water, energy, and momentum...explain the climate system’s large-scale features, variability, and response to external pressures” (Schmidt). It is also important to note that climate models are drastically different than weather forecasts. Weather forecasts are “chaotic” and work on a day-to-day basis, whereas climate projections require observation over a long period of time. With this in mind, there are three types of physics that go into creating climate models: fundamental principles, well known theories, and mathematical formulas. The conservation of energy, momentum, and mass, as well as orbital mechanics are good examples of the fundamental principles, while the transfer of radiation and Navier-Stokes equation of of fluid motion are good representations of the second form; finally, “formulas for evaporation as a function of wind speed and humidity” are prime examples for the third …show more content…
First, air pollution results from the addition of gases, solids, and liquids to the atmosphere. It can be both natural, (I.e., pollen, decomposing organic matter, and particles from active volcanoes) and man-made (I.e., emissions from cars, industrial by-products) (Harris). Once in the air, pollutants are impossible to control. Because of this and air currents, emissions at the local level still contribute to global air pollution problems. These emissions are abundant, but most are associated with burning fossil fuels and oil-based products. Two examples of air pollution include: smog and acid rain.
Smog and acid rain are two simpler examples of air pollution to help communicate the general idea of it. Smog is a product of chemical reactions between two or more substances in the atmosphere that create secondary pollutants (Harris). Despite the atmosphere’s self-cleansing mechanisms, However, these pale in comparison to the greenhouse