Air pollution webquest

You will explore a few websites to learn more about air pollution and what kinds of pollutants affect our air quality. You’ll also learn how air quality is measured and how it affects our health.Scientist’s Name:____________________ Work Hard – Get Smart – No Excuses. WEBQUEST: Air Quality, Air Pollution, Smog ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air Quality Webquest You will explore a few websites to learn more about air pollution and what kinds of pollutants affect our air quality. You’ll also learn how air quality is measured and how it affects our health. First Stop: http://www.airnow.gov/ 1. On the right side of the page, scroll down a bit, under “Air Quality Basics,” click “Air Quality Index.” a. What is the AQI (air quality index)? What does it tell you? https://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=aqibasics.aqi b. Which 5 major pollutants are covered by the AQI? c. Which two pollutants are the greatest threat to human health? 2. For each color below, indicate the AQI range and the level of health concern. Color AQI Range Level of Health Concern Green 0-50 Good (no concerns) Yellow Orange Red Purple Maroon 3. Go back to the AQI main page. What does the AQI look like for Lowell MA today? 1 Scientist’s Name:____________________ Work Hard – Get Smart – No Excuses. 4. What are today’s highest five? ( the highest and most dangerous AQIs) 4. Back on the main page - On the right, under “Air Quality Basics” , click “Particle Pollution” https://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=aqibasics.particle a. What is “particulate matter” and why is it dangerous? b. What are 4 different sources of ‘particulate matter’? 5. Back on the main page - On the right, under “Air Quality Basics” , click “Ozone” https://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=aqibasics.ozone a. What type of Ozone is good? b. What type of Ozone is bad? c. Where does this ground-level ozone come from? Next Stop! http://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=student.main 1. Under “Animations”, Watch the short clip about ozone – “Good up High, Bad Nearby” https://www3.epa.gov/airnow/o3gb/o3gb.html a. What is Ozone? d. Where is Ozone located? e. What type of Ozone can be bad for your health? f. What is ground level Ozone caused by? g. How can ground level Ozone be harmful to human health? 2 Scientist’s Name:____________________ Work Hard – Get Smart – No Excuses. h. Is the Ozone layer helpful or harmful in the Stratosphere? Next Stop: Click Smog City 2 http://www.smogcity2.org/ 1) At the top – click “visitor’s tour” guide to read about Smog City and how to play! http://www.smogcity2.org/tourguide.html 2) Go back - Click “Create your own Experience!” http://www.smogcity2.org/smogcity.cfm?preset=none Your Experiments/Challenges! 1. MAKE SMOG CITY AS UNHEALTHY AS POSSIBLE!! Experiment until you have the highest possible AQI. a. What conditions created the unhealthy AQI? b. What AQI color have you created in smog city? What level of health risk is this? 2. CHANGE THE WEATHER: With your AQI still high, start changing the weather controls one at a time. Which weather factor seems to make the most difference in the AQI? 3. CHANGE EMISSIONS LEVELS: With your AQI still high, start changing the emissions controls one at a time.