Introduction

Air is a homogeneous mixture of gaseous substances present in the earth’s atmosphere. It also contains
variable but significant quantities of aerosols. These are suspended particles of dust, smoke, organic matter,
sea salt, bacteria and spores e.t.c. coming from both natural and man made sources. Air is the clear gas in
which living things live and breathe. It has an indefinite shape and volume . It has no colour or smell. It has
mass and weight, because it is matter. It is extremely mobile ,compressible , has the capacity for expansion
and takes up space. The weight of air creates atmospheric pressure which is measured using a barometer.

Air is the earth’s atmosphere. The atmosphere is the protective air envelope around the earth. The
atmosphere can be described as a thin layer of odourless, colourless, and tasteless gases held to the earth
by forces of gravity. These gases act very much as a single gas commonly known as air . The atmosphere
comprises a stable mechanical mixture of gases, the most important of which are nitrogen 78.08%, oxygen
20.94%, argon 0.93%( major gases), carbon dioxide 0.03%, ozone 0.00006% , neon 0.0018%, helium
0.0005%, hydrogen 0.00005%( minor gases), krypton ,xenon and methane are in trace amounts( trace
gases). Nitrogen, oxygen and argon are constant in amount but carbon dioxide, ozone and water vapour
vary in amount both spatially and temporally.

Some of the minor gases have a significant role to play in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide enters the
atmosphere mainly by the action of living organisms in the ocean and land. Photosynthesis helps to maintain
a balance in the amount of global carbon dioxide by removing about 3% of the world’s total carbon dioxide
annually. The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is believed to have been increased since 1900 by
about 10% due to the burning of fossil fuels by man.

Water vapour, ozone, carbon dioxide and aerosols play important roles in energy distribution and
exchanges within the atmosphere and between the earth’s surface and the atmosphere.

The atmosphere is comprised of layers based on temperature conditions. These include:

 Troposphere: is the lowest part of the atmosphere, the part we live in. It starts at ground level, it
extends upwards to about 10km above sea level. It contains most of our weather conditions.
 Stratosphere: it extends to about 50km from the troposphere. It contains much of the ozone in the
atmosphere which absorbs ultraviolet radiations from the sun.
 Mesosphere: it extends upwards to a height of about 80km. Most of the meteors burn up here.
 Thermosphere: sometimes referred to as ionosphere. It is about 100km above the ground. High
energy x-rays and ultraviolet from the sun are absorbed here.
 Exosphere: is the final frontier of the earth’s gaseous envelope. Air here is very, very, very thin. It
extends from 500- 750km above the surface of the earth and beyond.

The composition of the earth’s atmosphere is a factor affecting climatic variations and the appearance of
life and its evolution.

Important uses of Air

Air is a natural resource and is available abundantly. Air is very important and useful because without it man
will not exist. It has many applications which include:

1. Air and the water cycle: the water cycle ensures that life around the planet receives the water it
needs by replenishing oceans, lakes, rivers and other water ways.
2. Air and the carbon cycle: air is important for recycling of carbon that comes into the biosphere from
fossil fuel combustion, the decay of dead animals and eruption of volcanoes. Most of the living organisms
exhale carbon dioxide into the air during respiration. Plants utilize the exhaled carbon dioxide present in the
air for photosynthesis which produces oxygen and water vapour as by-product. Apart from these gases,
other gases are also useful such as nitrogen for the production of ammonia.
3. Air sustains life and growth: air has oxygen as one of its key elements. It is vital for the sustenance of
life on earth as all living organisms depend on oxygen in the air for breathing in oxygen and without it we die
of asphyxia. There are many uses of air in our daily life. In living organisms, oxygen is supplied to all the cells
in the body through blood. In a similar way, plant cells also utilize carbon dioxide in air to produce food that
we eat to get energy ( in the form of adenosine tri phosphate). The generation of adenosine tri phosphate
which is biochemical in nature is essential to maintain life on earth.
4. Air makes the earth cosy: air contains carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that absorb
infrared radiation released from the earth. This phenomenon is called green house effect, it keeps the earth
surface warm which would not have been possible otherwise.
5. Air protects us: air helps protects us from the harmful radiations and celestial particles like x-rays,
cosmic rays, meteors and asteroids.
6. Air helps us to hear: people can hear sounds only because air carries sound waves from one point to
another.
7. Air helps to see the sky blue: due to air molecules, violet and blue wavelengths of sunlight scatter
which makes the sky appear blue.
8. Air causes change in weather: climatic phenomena like rain, snow and sea storms are all the
attributes of air circulation.
9. Air aids pollination: pollination is the process where pollen grains from the male flower reaches the
female flower. Air is also an important medium for transportation of these pollen grains without which
flowers could not bloom and fruits would not be produced.
10. Land and sea breeze: during conditions of extreme heat, the land surface becomes hotter compared
to oceans or sea surfaces. The hot air on the land rises rapidly and the place is filled by the cool air coming
from the ocean. This cycle of rapid movement of air is useful in maintaining temperature over the land.
11. Monsoon: monsoon is of critical importance as it provides for irrigation and thus production of
crops. This monsoon is aided by the winds of the world. Thus, air plays an important role in the movement
of clouds to form rain and its absence can cause drought like conditions in some regions.
12. Aerodynamics: parachutes and hot air balloons use air for mobility. Parachutes land safely using the
function of buoyancy and hot air balloons travel up in the air using hot air as a medium.
13. Land transportation: air filled tires, commonly used for land based transport, reduce the friction
between the tire and the solid surface, thus enabling automobiles to move faster.
14. Transportation in air planes: air makes transportation easier as it facilitates the smooth movement
of air planes. It is a common mode of transport globally across long distances. One can avoid obstacles
through air travel. Several other living beings like birds and insects depend on air for mobility. Air also has
several tiny living organisms called bio aerosols. They cannot fly on their own and depend on air for
transportation.
15. Minimising pollution: major cities are getting choked with pollutants, dust, smog, chemicals
preventing visibility and causing several health hazards. Air is useful in minimising air pollution by spreading
it across vast areas instead of clogging it at a specific place.
16. Wind power energy: air is a good source of wind energy. In recent times, there is significant increase
in the usage of wind energy to generate electricity by using wind turbines. Turbines rotate with the wind
flow and thus electricity is generated.
17. Combustion: is a chemical reaction between oxygen in the air and fuel accompanied by the
production of heat energy. In simple terms, it is called burning which is a chemical reaction. It is similar to
photosynthesis but in reverse. Some examples of combustion are as follows:
 Generating heat by burning coal or wood
 Utilising petrol or diesel as sources for transportation ( car).
 Utilising natural gas as fuel for cooking.
 Utilising fuel as an energy source in thermal power plants.
 Fireworks during festivals or events.

The combustion process is also called oxidation. Combustion needs an ignition. Matchstick is a common
ignition device that uses friction to create sufficient heat to ignite the phosphorus at the end of the
matchstick which causes a flame. The combustion process is used in cars, rocket engines and industrial
machinery.

18. Air helps in drying ( humidity balance): land gets wet by rains and it is dried up by heat and air. The
air on the immediate wet surface is very moist. So these moist layers of air are replaced by less moist or dry
layers of air. The new dry layer on the surface takes up moisture from the wet surface and the cycle
continues till the surface dries. Thus, air helps in drying by the maintenance of humidity. Even our clothes
when washed get dried in the same manner.
19. Importance of air pressure and vacuum: air pressure is important for activities like spraying
( pesticides), spreading ( in sterilization by autoclave), forming of fine droplets e.t.c. Vacuum pressure is
created when the air is removed from the cavity or pipe. This is useful for water pumping like in boreholes
and vacuum cleaners.
20. Air also helps us to swim in water.When our lungs are filled up with air, we can swim higher in
water.

Air pollution is one of the biggest threats for the environment and it affects everyone: human, animals,
crops, cities, forests, aquatic ecosystems etc.

Air pollution can be defined as an alternation of air quality that can be characterized by measurements
of chemical, biological or physical pollutants in the air. Therefore air pollution means the undesirable
presence of impurities or the abnormal rise in the proportion of some constitutes (natural and man made
substances) of the atmosphere (air we breath).

Causes of Air pollution

Air pollution is caused by the presence of toxic substances in the atmosphere mainly produced by human
activities even though some times it can result from natural phenomena such as volcanic eruptions, dust
storms and wild fire. It is typically separated into two categories:

Outdoor air pollution and Indoor air pollution

Outdoor air pollution: involves exposures that take place outside of the built environment, examples
include:

 Fine particles produced by the burning of fossil fuels (i.e. the coal and petroleum used in energy
production).
 Emissions of noxious gases from industries and factories (sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon
monoxide, chemical vapour, hydrocarbons and organic compounds ) into the air.
 Agricultural activities due to the use of pesticides, insecticides, and fertilizers that emit harmful
chemicals and ground level ozone (a reactive form of oxygen and a primary component of urban
smog)
 Waste production mostly because of methane generation in landfills
 Tobacco smoke

Indoor air pollution: involves exposures to particulates, carbon dioxide and other pollutants carried by
indoor air or dust, examples include:
  Gases (carbon monoxide, radon etc.)
 House hold products and chemicals
 Building materials (asbestos, formaldehyde and lead etc.)
 Outdoor- indoor allergens (cockroaches and mouse droppings etc.)
 Mold and pollen

In some instances outdoor air pollution can make its way indoors by way of open

Air pollution and climate change in Nigeria

Literature Review

Climate change refers to some observable variations in the climate system that are attributable to human
(anthropogenic) activities especially those that alter the atmospheric composition of the earth and
ultimately lead to global warming . Global warming is closely associated with climate change especially as a
co-traveller in the interplay of the equilibrium between the natural and man made components of the
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) that have been eminently adjudged globally as the culprit for the warming of the
earth’s atmosphere and oceans.

Global warming is the term used to describe the gradual increase in the average temperature of earth’s
atmosphere and its oceans. A change that is permanently changing earth’s climate forever. Global warming
is caused by increase in the emissions of GHGs through the burning of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas and coal),
burning of wood ,wood products and solid waste, raising of livestock and the decomposition of organic
waste in solid waste landfills, combustion and fossil fuels in industrial and agricultural activities, bush
burning and deforestation. All these human anthropogenic activities (air pollution) contribute to alter the
balance of the equilibrium between the natural the GHGs(water vapour,carbon dioxide ,ozone ,methane
and nitrous oxide) and the man made GHGs (sulphur hexafluoride, hydrofluorocarbon , etc ) in earth’s
atmosphere thus promoting the warming of both atmosphere and oceans since they are heat trapping
gases.

The level of these GHGs has increased beyond natural levels. There is a scientific consensus that the
average temperature of the earth has risen between 0.4 and 0.8 in the last 100 years . The increased
volume of CO2 and other GHGs released from air pollution are major sources of global warming that have
occurred in the last 50 years.

GHGs are good absorbers of heat radiation coming from earth’s surface acting like a blanket over its
atmosphere, keeping it warmer than it would be. Enhanced GHGs effect however, is not natural as it acts to
destabilize earth’s radiation balance due to anthropogenic accumulation in earth’s atmosphere of
radioactive GHGs especially tropospheric zone. It has been suggested that if the current trend of
anthropogenic GHGs emissions continues through 2030 earth is likely to experience an average rise in
temperature ranging from 1.5 to 4.5 ⁰C.

The projected impact on the earth’s environmental stability and hence changes in global climate would
include: disruption of temperature distribution, precipitation, evapotranspiration, clouds, air currents and
consequential shifts in the vegetation belts , melting of polar ice caps, rise in sea level that could adversely
affect low lying areas and the synergy among these discrete effects. All of these have grave implication for
fresh resources, agriculture and food supply, natural ecosystems, biodiversity, human
health ,flood,economic losses, population displacement and clashes migration and erosion depletion effects
etc.

Impacts and Effects of climate change

Nowadays environmental issues are receiving attention at global levels and are continuously making
efforts towards ensuring that the earth is a better place for human habitation, of note in this regard is the
CNN television news report of September 3 rd 2016, showcasing the signing of Paris climate change
agreement by both United states and China which sought to cut carbon emissions by half within the next
fifteen years. This endorsement is significant because the USA and China are said to account for about 40%
global carbon emissions. As a party to the Paris agreement Nigeria has committed to reducing its GHGs
emissions by 20%(1% of global production) relative to a business as usual scenario of economic and
emissions growth by 2030 and to pursuing a 45% reduction if sufficient international support is received (3).
The GHGs emissions inventory serves as a good indicator of the lack of industrial activity with the sector
producing just 10MtC02 annually. A lack of reliable and affordable electricity supply has been a hindrance to
industrialisation, albeit one of many. Businesses often rely on private diesel generators for expensive
power, which cuts into competitiveness. A rehabilitation of Nigeria’s ailing power sector will improve energy
access while reducing costs for consumers. It also presents an opportunity to alleviate climate change and
health risks due from toxic emissions from diesel use as they can be potent GHGs(e.g NOx) and or
carcinogenic.

Nigeria like other countries of the world has its own experience of climate change disaster like the one
that struck 25 years ago in the north eastern region presently comprising Borno and Yobe state, the
southern part of lake chad the section inside Nigerian territory dried up. Some 4 decades ago the lake
covered an area of over 40,000 sq kilometers where as now encompasses a mere 1300 sq km. While the
negative trend continues unabated and as land is laid to waste by the rising temperature leading to the rapid
south ward expansion of the Sahara desert. Farmlands and surrounding villages became barren and were
swallowed up by advancing desertification, which led to massive migration of people in search of more
fertile terrain from the north east towards the greener plateau and middle belt region. Growing
desertification and aridification forced thousands of fulani herdsmen to move to the south and middle belt
to find suitable pastures for their livestock. Clashes between cattle rearers and farmers whose lands have
been encroached on have resulted and created security crisis that has led to extensive loss of lives and
properties. However in the future ,climate driven migration will not be limited to livestock farmers. As these
areas become increasingly arid and inhabitable communities will migrate for survival. Crop productivity is
also is also expected to fall, challenges faced by farmers requires a shift from the current practices. The
Food and Agricultural organisation (FAO) of the United nations have none the less piloted such awareness
campaigns. It is left for the government to establish knowledge sharing partnerships that will allow local
farmers to benefit from the existing expertise on climate smart agriculture and reforestation.

Nigeria’s Guinea Savannah region is not spared either, logging and over dependence on firewood for
cooking have stripped a greater part of this area of its vegetation cover. The situation is similarly replicated
in the south where the forest around Oyo state has been reduced to grassland. And it doesn’t stop there,
just as desertification is devastating vast areas of the north, rising sea levels are threatening Nigeria’s coastal
regions. Although a source of oil wealth, the Niger delta low lying terrain and criss cross of water ways
makes it extremely vulnerable to flooding. Also according to the National emergency management agency
(NEMA) more than one million people in Nigeria have been affected by flood caused by wind storms.
 Air pollution is a major contributor to global warming and climate change. In fact the abundance of
carbon dioxide in the air is one of the causes of the greenhouse effects. Normally the presence of green
house gases (carbon dioxide, ozone, methane, sulphur hexafluoride, hydro fluorocarbon etc.) should be
beneficial for the planet because they absorb the infrared radiation produced by the surface of the earth,
but the excessive concentration of these gases in the atmosphere is the cause of the recent climate change.
These so called green house gases have caused increasing temperatures which are directly linked to poor air
quality at a rate unseen in past geological eras. Since the British industrial revolution, there has been
significant increase in the abundance of carbon dioxide (fossil fuels and energy) and this has driven mobility,
electrification, industry and innovation- the bricks of the modern economy. Fossil fuels that have spurred
global economic growth for centuries now threaten to be its inhibitor.

Management and control of climate change

Nigeria’s dependence on oil rents for 90% of export revenues also leaves the economy vulnerable to climate
policies that seek to wean the world off fossil fuels. However the present government has put in some
efforts to diversify the economy. The policies that the government implements in the coming years will
determine Nigeria’s competitiveness in an increasingly carbon constrained world.

Adaptation is the adjustment of the natural and built environment, and human behaviour to reduce
their vulnerability to climate change impacts e.g flood defences against sea level rise( like drenching of river
Benue and Niger, enacting proper town planning laws to avoid buildings in flood prone areas and water
channels) ,reduced meat consumption to curb agricultural emissions.

Mitigation is the prevention of further climate change by reducing the sources or enhancing the sinks
of GHGs emissions e.g switching from using fossil fuels to renewable energy, this process is often referred to
as decarbonization. These renewable energy ( clean energy technologies) include solar, wind, nuclear and
hydropower. Carbon capture and storage (CSS) is a technology that prevents emissions from fossil fuel
combustion from being released to the atmosphere by capturing them in a fluid and storing them in
geological formations underground. While these decarbonization measures are being pursued in
industrialized economies, they will prove difficult in emerging economies but not impossible. This potential
has been recognized in Nigeria and the government and multilateral organisations are funding an increasing
number of renewable energy projects mostly off grid generations ( small scale power generation) although
these can be only sufficient to power house hold appliances. Despite the vast potential of on grid renewable
for decarbonization, investment is lacking due to the high upfront cost of technologies . 14 utility scale solar
IPPs that would have contributed 1/13 GW of our renewable capacity target by 2030 have recently been
rejected by the Ministry of power on cost grounds, citing lower costs in East Africa. Risk premiums however
will remain high until such projects are successfully demonstrated. Consistency in energy, climate and trade
policy is needed to allow for the establishment of a renewable energy industry that can be the foundation of
a low carbon economy which will help Nigeria meet its commitments to the Paris agreement.

Domestic wood demand can be drastically reduced by clean energy (electrification) where electric stoves
and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is an alternative and government should make fuel affordable for low
income households. Reforestation encouraged as trees absorb significant quantities of carbon dioxide during
their growth and forest cover will reduce runoff effects which causes flood and erosion. In the north trees
cover can deter encroachment of the Sahara.

Controlled composting of organic waste can produce fertilisers for farming and displace synthetic
fertilizers which releases harmful chemicals . Recycling and collection of waste facilities (some are
operating)must be set up and laws put in place to penalise casualties of indiscriminate waste disposals.
 Green building and eco friendly transportation, shifting to electric and hydrogen vehicles and promoting
shared mobility.

Awareness of issues on pollution (air) and climate change which is presently low should be given a major
priority especially among vulnerable groups like women, children and rural dwellers. Advocacy programs
through work shops, seminars, public lectures and media campaigns should be encouraged. In this regard a
2 day south- south regional intensive training workshop to strengthen climate change in to state
development plans was held in Calabar Cross River state recently. It was organised by the department of
climate change under the federal ministry of environment and the national planning commission (NPC) in
collaboration with the United nations Development program (UNDP) .After the plenary, a communique was
stated that climate change is a development issue that should be mainstreamed in to various sectors of
National, Regional, State, and Local 11¹¹development plans.

Finally relevant fields of study that can be leveraged to solve climate change issues should be
emphasized in curricula and government in collaborations with private sector should fund researching in
such areas. In addition, monitoring air pollution levels has become very important to detect pollution peaks,
better control air pollution and eventually improve air quality.

Conclusion

Air plays a crucial role in supporting life on earth, people take air for granted. Many individuals and
companies do not pay attention to the waste materials which they are releasing into the air. We should pay
more attention to how we pollute our environment (air) and take some serious actions to protect our
environment cause without it man cannot survive.

Reference

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J.o Ayoade. Introduction to climatology for the tropics ( revised edition) 2011.

Zimmer , carl. Earth’s oxygen: a mystery easy to take for granted. New york times (3 rd October 2013).

Dr Nazma shcuk, Ashhar Firdaus. Environmental chemistry. Www.toppr.com retrieved on 19/02/20, 8.09
pm.

Centre for science education, National centre for atmospheric research. National science foundation.(Air).
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National institute of environmental health sciences 2013

Ipcc climate change 2014: mitigation of climate change, contribution of working group 3 to the 5 th
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York, USA: Cambridge university press.

Ministry of environment, federal republic of Nigeria 2015. Nigeria’s intended nationally determined
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Solar impulse foundation: efficient solutions to air pollution July 2019. Www.solarimpulse.com

Climate change in Nigeria: a brief review of causes, effects and solutions by Jumoke Beyioku September
2016 Www.fmic.gov.ng
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energy and environment 2011 Www.researchgate.net

Journal of Nigerian affairs the republic knowledge company

Nigeria and climate change by Habiba Daggash 2018. Www.republic.com.ng