Air and Atmosphere - Atmospheric Pollution

Air Pollution is the contamination of air by harmful substances such as chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm to humans and the environment.

Major pollutants include Carbon monoxide ($CO$), Nitrogen oxides ($NO_x$), Sulfur dioxide ($SO_2$), and Chlorofluorocarbons ($CFCs$).

The Greenhouse Effect is the process where gases like $CO_2$ and $CH_4$ trap the sun's heat in the atmosphere. An increase in $CO_2$ concentration leads to Global Warming.

Acid Rain is formed when pollutants like $SO_2$ and $NO_2$ react with water vapor ($H_2O$) in the atmosphere to form Sulfuric acid ($H_2SO_4$) and Nitric acid ($HNO_3$).

The Ozone layer ($O_3$) in the stratosphere protects Earth from harmful Ultraviolet (UV) radiation. It is depleted by $CFCs$ used in refrigeration and aerosols.

Incomplete combustion of fossil fuels produces Carbon monoxide ($CO$), a highly poisonous gas that reacts with hemoglobin to form carboxyhemoglobin, reducing the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood.