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Sunday September 14, 2008 Ground Level Ozone:
Gilbert N. Hanson 7:00 p.m. ESS 001 |
Sunday October 19, 2008 Sustainability and Martin Schoonen 7:00 p.m. ESS 001 |
Sunday November 9, 2008 TBA 7:00 p.m. ESS 001 |
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This Science Night series will consider Environmental
Concerns that directly impact Link here to be placed on the mail or e-mail list to receive announcements. Directions to ESS Building at Stony Brook University Teachers and Professional Geologists can receive Link to previous offerings Fall 2007, Spring 2008 Ground Level Ozone: the Bad Ozone
Gilbert N. Hanson 7:00 p.m. ESS 001 The American Lung Association (2008) gives Suffolk County an F, as in Failing, for the periods of high concentrations of ground level ozone in its air. Even at low levels ozone can reduce lung function; cause acute respiratory problems; aggravate asthma; cause inflammation of lung tissue; and increase susceptibility to respiratory infection. People begin feeling the effects of ozone at levels greater than 50 ppb. Ground level ozone is also dangerous to plants. Increased levels of zone result in foliar injury and reduced growth in plants. This results in reduced crop yields and forest production. Plants can be affected at levels of 40 ppb and serious damage can occur at levels greater than 80 ppb. Ground level ozone is directly related to motor vehicle exhaust. It is created when sunlight on a hot sunny day interacts with organic compounds and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere forming smog and ozone. Often the highest concentrations of ground level ozone are downwind of metropolitan areas, such as Suffolk County, where natural organic compounds from forested areas react with the nitrogen oxides. Prior to World War II background levels of ground level ozone were 10 to 20 ppb. Background levels are expected to increase by 0.5–2% per year as a result of increased global emissions of nitrogen oxides unless there is an effort to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions on a global scale. With continued global warming we can expect an increase in the number of hot summer days which will result in increased ozone production added to an expected increase in background ozone. Pertinent Links Lower atmosphere basics: Ozone Smog American Lung Association "State of the Air 2008" Suffolk County, NY gets an F for Ozone Pollution How to identify ozone injury on eastern forest bioindicator plants Handbook for assessment of foliar ozone injury on vegetation in the National Parks.
Sustainability
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