EGEE 101
Energy and the Environment

Region Haze-Mostly Sulfate Aerosols

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Remember the difference between acid deposition and acid precipitation?

The sulfate aerosols (suspended fine solid particles of sulfate or tiny droplets of a solution of a sulfate or of sulfuric acid) that are also released into the atmosphere, are in many ways more damaging than the rain and hail. Their small size permits them to enter into our lungs where they cause breathing difficulties. The small particles also scatter light, which reduces visibility. After a good rainstorm, the visibility will often improve as the sulfate aerosols (and small particles) have been washed out of the air. In the US National Parks, 60% of the visibility reduction is attributed to sulfate aerosols. Dust from unpaved roads and small particles from forest fires (recall the PM2.5 challenges) also contribute. This has been so bad in the past that wildfires in Mexico caused unhealthy air in Houston (not a city renowned for healthy air in the first place). Thus, regional haze is a greater hazard when sulfate aerosols are present.

Recall that we looked at the regional haze challenges in the previous lesson.