Environment and society - Essay Example

Environment and Society The values assigned for AQI are 0 to 50, 51 to 100, 101 to 150, 151 to 200, 201 to 300 and 301 to 500. There colours for the AQIs are green, yellow, orange, red, purple and maroon respectively. Good AQI, 0 to 50 means a satisfactory, air quality in which air pollution poses no or little risk (AirNow 1). Moderate AQI, 51 to 100 means acceptable air quality. However, moderate AQI has some pollutants, which are of concern to some people who are sensitive to pollution of air.

Unhealthy for sensitive groups AQI, 101 to 150 (orange) is one where sensitive group members may suffer health effects. However, this may not affect the general public. Unhealthy AQI, 150 t0 200 (red), has an association with health effects upon the general public. Here, sensitive group members suffer more severe effects than others. Very unhealthy AQI, 201 to 300 (purple) comes with emergency conditions health warnings. This seems to affect the entire population. Maroon color (hazardous AQI- 301 TO 500) means health alert that can come with health effects upon all people.

The current AQI, Friday November 01 2013 at 5:00 AM EST is good but with some moderate AQIs in some states. There are also negligible spots of “Unhealthy for sensitive groups” AQI (AirNow 1). We also have unhealthy AQI as a spot around Spokane. The forecast AQI is good with some spots of moderate AQI.The factors that could be responsible for the differences between the current National AQI and the forecast AQI could be particulate matter content of the air and the prevailing winds. The AQI loop shows a general green, good AQI with the extreme western part showing moderate AQI.

The colors keep changing from time to time, but the general good, green AQI is maintained. The loop for ozone is green showing that the lower atmosphere is free of harmful ozone. PM loop although covered by green, good AQI, keeps changing in some parts. The observed difference is because ozone disruption or changes take a long time to be noticed.The AQI for Philadelphia is good with a value of 33 (AirNow 1). Current conditions are moderate with the health message to unusually sensitive people to avoid prolonged exertion.

The map for ozone shows a general good condition with stability. The current PM for Philadelphia is good, but with moderate conditions to the western and southern parts.The process of carbon capture and sequestration takes place through three steps. These include capture of carbon dioxide from industrial processes and power plants (EPA 1). The captured carbon dioxide is then compressed and transported in pipes. The third step involves underground injection of carbon dioxide into deep rock formations.

This at present is taking place in the United States, where capture of carbon dioxide from industrial processes occurs and the carbon dioxide captured is used in various end uses. This technology is promising and can be the best solution to the soaring carbon dioxide levels. There are other approaches to carbon dioxide release such as planting trees to help sequester it. However, the use of trees may not give an immediate remedy.Works CitedEPA. “Carbon Dioxide Capture and Sequestration.” Climate change, 2013. Web. 5 Oct. 2013. AirNow.

Local Air Quality Conditions, 2013. Web. 5 Oct. 2013