Module Objectives Achieved

You will be able to…

MO 3.1. Assess environmental challenges facing humans (6. #challenges Course)

MO 3.2. Use the vocabulary of env sci. in written communication (7. #vocab Course; 2. #commskills Core)

MO 3.3. Apply critical thinking skills. (7. #think Course; 1 #critthink Core)

MO 3.4. Quantitatively evaluate Earth systems. (3. #quant; 5. #systems)

Task

1. Read Freeman, Chapter 16 (pp. 366 – 381. End atCanadian Focus)

2. Write a blog post in three parts (use these as blog headers):

(1) Air Pollution Basics,

(2) Comparison of Current AQI, and

(3) Comparison of Current PM2.5/03.

Each of these three topics should be a bold header and include the content as follows:

Air Pollution Basics

For your blog audience describe the basics of air pollution using the sub-headers and sub-topics of:

- - Sulfur Pollutants
  - Nitrogen Pollutants
  - Hydrocarbon and Volatile Organic Compound Pollutants

You need not go any further than the Freedman reading. That is, you should not Google, copy/paste anything into this section. Write it yourself from the text.

"Describe the basics" means to write out the basic information as if you were explaining it to your mother (or someone else in your family).

Cite and reference Freedman as needed.

Comparison of Current AQI

- Explain to your readers what the AQI is in your own words.
- Create a table like this one below based on current data from the resources below. Include at a minimum the...

(a) current highest AQI from the EPA’sAir Now(see referenced web site below)

(b) current AQI information from where you live from the Air Now data

(c) the current AQI information from Los Angeles, CA

(d) the time of day at each location. Include the data just like I have it in this table below. (You can delete the asterisks and notes.)

- - - Cite and completely reference all of your sources, but put the sources at the end of your work.

You may use my table template for your tables.Table Template for Activity 3.3.1.docx

Comparison of Current AQI

	Time of Day*	AQI Current	AQI Forecast	PM2.5**	O3**
New London, CT (highest)	2:00 pm	174	74	61	174
New Braunfels, TX (Where I Live)	1:00 pm	75	50	75	21
Los Angeles, CA	11:00 am	56	125	56	31

*Time of Day – Try to do all of this data gathering at once. I have this column so we can think about what is going on. For example, rush hour at 7:30 am in San Antonio (highest NOx/VOC) will still be 4:00 am in Los Angeles, CA…no traffic yet. This makes a difference to note.

**These AQI data are on the 0 – 500 AQI scale, they are not actual ppb or µg/m3 measurements.

- Below the table write a descriptive comparison in two to three paragraphs. That is, explain how the AQIs in the different places are similar, how they are different, what is the highest in which category(ies), what is the lowest among the categories. You don’t need to try to explain why, just describe (write “what”).

Resources for Data

Highest in US Map
Where I Live Data – (enter your ZIP code)
Los Angeles Data
IQ AirMap

Word Document with these tables pre-formatted -Table Template for Activity 3.3.1.docx

Comparison of Current PM2.5 and O3 to EPA Standards

- Explain to your readers what PM2.5 is your own words.
- Explain what O₃ is in your own words.
- Explain the health hazards of each.
- Create a table like this one below based on current data from San Antonio (or other Texas major metropolitan area if you do not live in SA) the resources below. Include at a minimum the (a) current PM2.5 from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the (b) current O3 information, and (c) the time of day. Include the data just like I have it in this table below.
- Cite and reference all of your sources.

Comparison of Current PM2.5 and O₃ to EPA Standards

National Standard

San Antonio Current measured over 1 hour

Time of Day

PM2.5

Average measured over 24 hours - 35 μg/m3

23.4 µg/m3

2:30 pm

O3

Average measured over 8 hours - 70 ppb (137 µg/m3)

31 ppb

2:30 pm

Resources for Data

3. Post all of the above information you created to your blog.

Note: If you write all of this out in Word, you can just copy/paste it into your blog. Blogger will hold the table formatting; I do not know if other blog sites will.

Here is a sample product from Spring 2021: https://jerrylittle78.blogspot.com/2021/03/activity-331-air-pollution-core-activity.html?m=1

Criteria

Your declaration will read:

Blog Title: My blog posting title is written as, Activity 3.3.1 Air Pollution Core Activity.
Content: I have included three sections, (1) Air Pollution Basics, (2) Comparison of Current AQI, and (3) Comparison of Current PM2.5/03, with each of these three topics as a bold header.

AND, in the Air Pollution Basics section I have included content related to:

- - Sulfur Pollutants
  - Nitrogen Pollutants
  - Hydrocarbon and Volatile Organic Compound Pollutants
Tables: I have included correct tables for the (2) Comparison of Current AQI, and (3) Comparison of Current PM2.5/03 sections exactly following the model provided.
Length: I have written of sufficient length to demonstrate my new knowledge and to describe the data sufficient so a family member could understand it.
Accuracy: I have double checked all of my information and data at least twice for accuracy.
Citations and References: Because the information in this activity is not common knowledge I have cited in the text and referenced all occasions where I wrote something I borrowed from someone else.

AND, my in-text citations match my references and my references match my in-text citations.

Professionalism: I have proofread my work twice. I read it out loud to my self at least once. There are absolutely no errors in writing, grammar, punctuation, spelling, and I use college-level writing and vocabulary. AND, I turned my work in on time.

Reference

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2019, June 18).Air quality index basics. Air Now. https://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=aqibasics.aqi