Atmospheric haze is mainly caused by?

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

UGC NET Official Paper-I (Held On: 01 Mar, 2023 Shift 1)

Answer 1

Key Points

Atmospheric haze:

Atmospheric haze is the phenomenon of low visibility caused by the presence of a large number of airborne particles in the atmosphere.
These particles scatter and absorb sunlight, reducing the amount of light that reaches the ground.
The main cause of atmospheric haze is the presence of ultrafine size particulate matter in the atmosphere, such as dust, smoke, and other pollutants.
These particles can come from natural sources like volcanic eruptions or human-made sources like industrial pollution and vehicular emissions.

Additional Information

Oxides of nitrogen and sulphur: These gases are primarily responsible for causing acid rain and smog, which can lead to haze in the atmosphere.
Ozone: While ozone in the stratosphere is beneficial, protecting us from harmful UV radiation, ground-level ozone is a pollutant that can cause respiratory problems and contribute to the formation of haze.
Carbon dioxide and Carbon monoxide: These gases are greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. They can indirectly cause haze by increasing temperature, which can lead to the formation of haze and smog. However, they are not directly responsible for atmospheric haze.