Smog-Tropospheric Ozone

Smog is the dirty urban air which contains noxious and aesthetically unpleasant gases and aerosols. Tropospheric ozone is a gaseous component of smog -- located in the first few kilometers above ground.

The major contributors to modern day smog are the processes resulting from the industrial revolution, the use of motor vehicles, and natural processes such as those associated with soils, plants, volcanic eruptions, and sea sprays.

Meteorology also plays a role in the severity of smog. In stagnant air, chemicals are trapped and concentrations rise. When there is more sunlight, chemical reactions are enhanced. When relative humidity is higher, aerosol formation is enhanced. (Eblen and Eblen, 1994, p. 651)

Compiled by

Joy Grillon jg2@cec.wustl.edu Last updated 10/26/94.