Question

Air pollution leads to ________ effect.

• A. Healing
• B. Cooling
• C. Greenhouse
• D. Globalisation

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Greenhouse

Air pollution leads to the greenhouse effect. Air pollution is transported across continents and ocean basins due to fast long-range transport, resulting in trans-oceanic and trans-continental plumes of Atmospheric Brown Clouds (ABCs) containing sub-micron size particles, i.e., aerosols. ABCs intercept sunlight by absorbing as well as reflecting it, both of which lead to a large surface dimming. The dimming effect is enhanced further because aerosols may nucleate more cloud droplets, which makes the clouds reflect more solar radiation. The dimming has a surface cooling effect and decreases evaporation of moisture from the surface, thus slows down the hydrological cycle. On the other hand, absorption of solar radiation by black carbon and some organics increase atmospheric hearing and tend to amplify greenhouse warming of the atmosphere.