Conditions to the Formation of Photochemical Smog

Temperature/ Thermal Inversions

- Warm layer of air forms between 2 cool layers
- Cool air in lower atmosphere cannot flow upwards
- Pollutants remain in the lower atmosphere
Bowl Shaped Cities

- Surrounded or bordered by mountains
- Promote formation of temperature inversions
- Night time ground cooling
- Movement of warm air masses over mountains
Windless Conditions (and many coastal communities)
- No horizontal movement of air away from cities
- Pollutants build up in the lower layer
Ultraviolet Radiation from the Sun
- Promotes the existence of free radicals within the atmosphere (which can react with other substances to make photochemical smog)

	Created by IBMichelle over 10 years ago

IB Chemistry (E: Environmental Science (UNMODIFIED)) Note on E10: Smog (UNMODIFIED), created by IBMichelle on 07/04/2014.