Course Outline
Environmental Science 412/612-3: Air Pollution

Instructor:	Dr. Peter L. Jackson
phone:	250.960.5985
email:	peter.jackson@unbc.ca
office hours:	TR 14:30-15:20 OBA
lecture:	T R 13:30-14:20 in 10-4072
lab:	W 11:30-14:20 pm in 8-365

Course description:

This multidisciplinary course will investigate the nature and impacts of air pollution, both in general and more particularly in the Northern BC region. Students will gain a systematic understanding of air pollution, including: sources, emissions, health and environmental effects, chemistry, air pollution meteorology, dispersion modelling, engineering and legislative controls, and airshed planning. This will be accomplished by a combination of lecture presentations, readings from assigned journal articles and optional readings from the text, guest speakers, field trips, and laboratory projects. Resources related to ENSC 412/612 can be found in the course Moodle page located at https://moodle.unbc.ca/course/view.php?id=6597.

Textbook and readings:

The (optional) text for this course (the 4th edition is on reserve in the library) is:

Vallero, D., 2014: Fundamentals of Air Pollution, Elsevier, 5th Edition, SanDiego, 942 pp.

Evaluation:

There will be a midterm exam, final exam, laboratory group projects, and marked field trip reports. The mid term exam is scheduled for Thursday, October 10, 2024 during the lecture period. The final exam will occur sometime during the December exam period, so no travel or employment plans should be made for this time. Assignments handed in late will have marks deducted, except for medical or other extraordinary circumstances. In any case, the instructor must be notified of late assignments prior to the due date. Missed exams cannot be made up except on documented medical grounds and notification prior to exam date.

Laboratory Projects	40%
Field Trip Reports	10%
Mid term Exam	15%
Final Exam	35%
Total	100%

For students registered in the graduate course (ENSC 612) there will be an additional requirement of an in-class presentation on a topic to be arranged in consultation with the instructor. This will be worth 10% of the final mark for the course, with the final exam weighting decreased to 25%.

Assignments:

Working together and sharing of thoughts and methods is encouraged in lab project work to facilitate learning, and to complete the group lab projects. All other graded assignments must be independently written. If any sources (including internet sources) are used as a basis of information, they must be reformulated into your own words, properly cited in the text and referenced. Infrequent direct quotation and citation is also permissible. Copying of other student's work is not permitted. Failure to follow these guidelines is considered plagiarism and will result in penalties ranging from a zero for the assignment, course failure, to being required to withdraw from the university.

If generative artificial intelligence (AI, e.g. ChatGPT) is used in assignments or projects, its use must be explained and correctly cited. Unless the instructions allow use of AI, it is not to be used.

1. Field Trip Reports:

   Students will be responsible for writing up each field trip. These assignments should be short (1-2 pages) and will be due one week following the field trip. While each field trip will vary in its objectives and significance, write-ups should include the following topics:

   • purpose of the field trip
   • a description of the field trip, and a discussion of what was learned
   • your evaluation / critique of the field trip

2. Lab Projects:

   Students will undertake one of two lab projects investigating aspects of air pollution measurement in the Prince George region. The projects will be done as a group and each will have a single report submitted. Each member of the group will document their contribution to the projects and assess the participation of all group members allowing a mark adjustment for individuals based on participation and contribution. Details of the lab projects will be discussed early in the semester. The projects will each include the following deliverables that will be graded: an outline and preliminary bibliography (worth 10% of project grade); a powerpoint presentation of the key findings (worth 20% of the project grade); a first draft of the full project report that includes a literature review one per group, worth 50% of the project grade); a final draft of the project report that incorporates instructor feedback on the first draft (worth 20% of the project grade). See the schedule for due dates for each of these items.

Reach out for success

University students often encounter setbacks from time to time that can impact academic performance. If you encounter difficulties and need assistance its important to reach out. If your difficulties are academic, please meet with the course instructor or your lab instructor. The following resources are also available free to all students at UNBC and can help address adademic, mental, emotional or physical health concerns:

Academic Success Centre:

Offers students FREE access to academic support services such as tutoring, study skills assessments, handouts, self-assessment sites, workshops. For more information see www.unbc.ca/asc, to book an appointment visit ASC us on the first floor of the library, email asc@unbc.ca, or phone 250.960.6367.

Wellness Centre:

Offers counseling and health services for all students to support the academic success and personal well-being. room 5-196. phone: 250.960.6369. hours: 9am-4pm, Monday-Friday.

Access Resource Centre:

If you have a disability or health condition that may require accommodations, approach an instructor and/or the ARC as soon as possible. ARC staff are available by appointment to assess specific needs, provide referrals and arrange appropriate accommodations to assist you in achieving your academic goals. ARC is located in 5-157. Go to www.unbc.ca/access-resource-centre. Email: arc@unbc.ca. Phone 250.960.5682.

Schedule / Topics / Due dates:

The following topics will be covered in the course, as time permits. Journal readings are posted on the course moodle site each week.

Week	Date	Topic	Laboratory	Text Reading
1	Sep 2	Introduction, overview and history of air pollution.	no lab	Ch 1
2	Sep 9	Natural vs. polluted atmosphere. Types of AP. Scales of AP.	Introduction to Lab Projects; Project methods and tools	Ch 2, 3
3	Sep 16	AQ criteria and standards. Sources of AP: natural, anthropogenic, mobile, stationary. hazardous AP. AP trends and patterns.	P1 Intro - Amelia Merrick; Project methods and tools	Ch 4, 22
4	Sep 23	Indoor AQ. Combustion. Emission inventories. Engineering control.	FT1: BCMECCS monitoring Plaza 400 / P2 monitor installation	Ch 6, 23, 28, 29, 30, 31
5	Sep 30	Engineering controls cont'd. Effects of air pollution on health and living systems.	Project Work Proj: out/bib due Oct 3 @ start of lecture	CH 7, 8
6	Oct 7	Effects of air pollution on materials, structures, atmosphere, soil and water. Mid Term Thurs Oct 10	Project Work	Ch 9, 10
7	Oct 14	Measurement / Monitoring / Sampling. Air Pollution chemistry, photochemistry, deposition.	FT2: UNBC Bioenergy	Ch 12, 13, 14, 15
8	Oct 21	AP Chemistry - cont'd. Air pollution meteorology and climatology.	Project Work	Ch 17, 18, 19, 21
9	Oct 28	Pollutant transformation and removal. Transport and dispersion of air pollution. AP in mountains.	Project Work	Ch 20
10	Nov 4	Air pollution modelling.	Project Work Proj: ppt due Nov 7 @ start of lecture	Ch 5, 24, 26
11	Nov 11	Airshed Planning: Regulatory and Land Use Controls.	Project Work	Ch 27
12	Nov 18	Holistic AQ managment. International Air Pollution Issues. Acid Rain, Stratospheric Ozone, Global Warming, HAPs, POPs.	Project Work Proj: draft due Nov 21 @ start of lecture	Ch 11
13	Nov 25	International AP Issues - cont'd.	Project Work	Ch 11
14	Dec 2	wrap-up	Proj: final due Dec 3