WK6 SCIn 137
JR Santodomingo
SCIN 137 Wk. 6 Assignment
Professor Scott
1. Describe how the use of a tall smoke stack might improve air quality near a large industrial facility.
The use of a tall smoke could improve air quality near a large industrial facility because they can better mix pollutants than smaller smoke stacks because of the greater volume of air. A taller smoke stack would generally improve the air quality in the surrounding area but would also cause a larger area to be polluted because it would be pushed out further by the winds. During the cooler parts of the day, which is considered a stable inversion, the taller stack is able to disperse the smoke over a larger area rather than a smaller smoke stack which contaminates the surrounding area more in the relatively unstable air above the inversion.
2. How can topography contribute to pollution in a city or region?
Topography is a very important factor when considering pollution because depending on the location, like low-lying basins and valleys pollution can be higher due to cold air draining downhill and settling in the lower areas. Areas like valleys surrounded by mountains and hills tend to be encased in pollution due to the mountains or hills blocking the prevailing winds from dispersing the polluted area to other areas.
3. From where do hurricanes derive their energy? What factors tend to weaken hurricanes? Would you expect a hurricane to weaken more quickly if it moved over land or over cooler water?
Hurricanes get their energy from low pressure zones in the tropical latitudes. Cooler waters or a change in wind speed or direction are some factors that weaken hurricanes. Hurricanes grow in strength over warm waters because there is more moisture in the air which helps cloud formation, which in turn strengthen the storms. So with cooler water there would be less moisture in the air which in turn would slow the hurricane down. A change in wind direction or speed would cause a mixing of the drier air into
SCIN 137 Wk. 6 Assignment
Professor Scott
1. Describe how the use of a tall smoke stack might improve air quality near a large industrial facility.
The use of a tall smoke could improve air quality near a large industrial facility because they can better mix pollutants than smaller smoke stacks because of the greater volume of air. A taller smoke stack would generally improve the air quality in the surrounding area but would also cause a larger area to be polluted because it would be pushed out further by the winds. During the cooler parts of the day, which is considered a stable inversion, the taller stack is able to disperse the smoke over a larger area rather than a smaller smoke stack which contaminates the surrounding area more in the relatively unstable air above the inversion.
2. How can topography contribute to pollution in a city or region?
Topography is a very important factor when considering pollution because depending on the location, like low-lying basins and valleys pollution can be higher due to cold air draining downhill and settling in the lower areas. Areas like valleys surrounded by mountains and hills tend to be encased in pollution due to the mountains or hills blocking the prevailing winds from dispersing the polluted area to other areas.
3. From where do hurricanes derive their energy? What factors tend to weaken hurricanes? Would you expect a hurricane to weaken more quickly if it moved over land or over cooler water?
Hurricanes get their energy from low pressure zones in the tropical latitudes. Cooler waters or a change in wind speed or direction are some factors that weaken hurricanes. Hurricanes grow in strength over warm waters because there is more moisture in the air which helps cloud formation, which in turn strengthen the storms. So with cooler water there would be less moisture in the air which in turn would slow the hurricane down. A change in wind direction or speed would cause a mixing of the drier air into