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The AQI is an index for reporting daily air quality. It tells you how clean or p

ID: 299127 • Letter: T

Question

The AQI is an index for reporting daily air quality. It tells you how clean or polluted your air is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for you. The AQI focuses on health effects you may experience within a few hours or days after breathing polluted air, EPA calculates the AQI for five major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act: ground-level ozone, particle pollution (also known as particulate matter), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide, For each of these pollutants. EPA has established national air quality standards to protect public health. Ground-level ozone and airborne particles are the two pollutants that pose the greatest threat to human health in this country. Think of the AQI as a yardstick that runs from 0 to 500. The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health concern. For example, an AQI value of 50 represents good air quality with little potential to affect public health, while an AQI value over 300 represents hazardous air quality. An AQI value of 100 generally corresponds to the national air quality standard for the pollutant, which is the level LPA has set to protect public health. AQI values below 100 are generally thought of as satisfactory. When AQI values arc above 100, air quality is considered to be unhealthy-at first for certain sensitive groups of people, then for everyone as AQI values get higher. d) Explain the distribution of air quality in the United States on June 28, 2012. What processes could lead to this distribution? e) Compare air quality in June 28, 2012 with that of December 8, 2016? What processes might lead to better air quality in December, 2016?

Explanation / Answer

D)

In the states of Ohio, Michigan and Newyork, the air quality was (Red) worst and was unhealthy having AQI value 151-200.

Oklahama, Missouri, Kansas, Illions, Indiana, Kentucky, Tenessee, Pennsylvania and New jersey the air quality was (Orange) unhealthy for sensitive group having AQI value 101-150.

Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Iowa the air quality was (Yellow) moderate having AQI value 51 - 100.

Other areas were good and had no pollution and had Green having AQI value 0 – 50.

The following processes can lead to this distribution

1. The elevation of the place above sea.

2. The number of vehicles in the area.

3. Percent industrialization in the area.

4. Presence of incinerators and thermal power stations.

5. Population and population density

E)

As compared to previous air condition of June 28 2012, the air quality in December 2016 was very good and almost all the places were having good air whose AQI value lies in between 0 - 50. Only in some places, the air quality was moderate having AQI value moderate.

The following processes might lead to good air quality in december 2016

1. The pollution board taking good action to decrease pollution sources.

2. Good rain

3. Decrease in vehicle usage.

4. Plantation

5. Use of filters in chimneys of industries.