Explain how sulfur impurities in coal can lead to increased acidity in rainwater and to the subsequent depletion soil nutrients.

Questions

1) List three changes you can make to your lifestyle that would help prevent or reduce air pollution.  Explain how each of the changes you listed would prevent or reduce air pollution.

2) Explain how sulfur impurities in coal can lead to increased acidity in rainwater and to the subsequent depletion soil nutrients.

3) The following two figures are tile plots showing daily Air Quality Index (AQI) value for ultrafine particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers (PM 2.5) for the past 20 years in Boston and in Providence Rhode Island.

a) What is the overall trend of PM 2.5 in both areas over the past 20 years?  Why do you think this is the case?

b) In which area (Boston or Providence) is the concentration of PM 2.5 higher overall?  Why do you think this is the case?

c) What is the yearly trend of PM 2.5 in Boston?  What is the yearly trend of PM 2.5 in Providence?  Why do you think this is the case?