Exam Questions

In big Cities located in dry climates, such as Los Angeles, atmospheric pollution is a big problem.

i) State two reasons why atmospheric pollution from traffic and industry is often worse in places with a dry and hot climate.
Rain with the help of wind, usually disperses pollutants from an area causing it to move on, however, in dry places with no rain nor wind the pollutants would stay in the same area.
As well as that, with a hot climate the sun will mostly shine for longer and with a higher intensity, this causes the warm air to rise to the top, so when the sun is out the hot air rises higher above the cold air trapping the pollutants in the cold air layer. This is the process of inversion, that sometimes presents itself in the physical appearance of fog.


ii) Where are strategies for reducing traffic emissions likely to be more effective - in developed world cities like Los Angeles or in developing world cities like Cairo and Beijing?
It would be more effective in developed countries. This would be because it would cost money to bring in alternate fuel sources or catalytic converters, money which developed countries have, while LEDC's don't have that much.
Not only this, but developed cities tend to emit the most Greenhouse gasses through traffic emissions, because of these types of cities being more modern. And with the modernization, developed cities can provide alternate fuels or cars that are more environmentally conscious, such as Hybrids.
The government could also bring forward a law or legislation to reduce the amount of pollutants emitted.