Carol Greene - I Love Our Air

OUR EARTH, OUR AIR

Do you know why air is important? All people, animals, and plants need air to live. Learn about what air is, and why our air is so important to everyone. Also, discover ways to save our air every day!

"THESE EASY BOOKS SHOW YOUNG PEOPLE HOW TO CARE FOR OUR EARTH"

About the Author

Carol Greene is the author of over 100 books for children. She has worked as a children's book editor and a teacher of writing for children.

Air is all around us. Every living thing needs it to stay alive.

You cant see it. You cant smell or taste it. But you cant live without it.

What is it? Air.

Sometimes you can feel air moving past you. Moving air is called wind.

Sometimes you can see what air does. You can see it blow leaves on a tree or toss a kite in the sky.

Sometimes you can see other things in the air. You can see fog. It is made of tiny drops of water in the air.

Sometimes you can smell or taste things in the air. You can smell flowers. You can taste salt when you are near the sea.

But the drops of water, the smell of flowers, and the taste of salt are not part of air. They are just in it.

Air is made of gases such as oxygen, ozone, and carbon dioxide. It covers the whole earth like an invisible blanket.

We can see things that are blown by the wind, like these sailboats. But we cannot see air.

These raccoons give out carbon dioxide when they breathe. The trees where they live take in the carbon dioxide.

Air is important because all living things need it to stay alive. Without air, they die.

Different living things use different gases from the air.

When people and animals breathe, they take in oxygen. They give out carbon dioxide. Green plants and trees take in carbon dioxide. They give out oxygen.

This works well. It keeps the air right for all living things.

Air is also important because it helps keep the earth warm. The invisible blanket of air lets in sunlight. It keeps the suns heat close to the earth.

Air is important because it protects the earth from some of the suns rays. These rays can harm peoples skin.

The gas called ozone stays high in the blanket, or layer, of air. It keeps some harmful rays from getting through.

The air protects us from some of the suns rays. But it is also very important to use sunscreen.

Factories release pollutants that can make the air unsafe.

People can make air dirty by putting pollutants in it. Pollutants are harmful things left over after burning or making something.

Most pollutants come from burning things. We burn fuel in cars, trucks, and planes. Power companies burn fuel to make heat and light. Some factories make things by burning.

All of this burning puts pollutants in the air. Pollutants make the air hard to breathe. They can make people and animals sick. Pollutants can harm plants and trees. They can even harm buildings and bridges.

Some pollutants can kill. Once, a poisonous gas got in the air from a factory in India. It was an accident. But over 3,000 people died.

Air does not stay in one place. It moves around. So dirty air from one state can hurt plants and trees in another state. Dirty air from one country can make people and animals sick in another country.

Sometimes there is too much carbon dioxide in the air. It can come from burning things. But it also comes from cutting down too many trees. The earth needs those trees to use carbon dioxide.

When there is too much carbon dioxide in the air, more of the suns heat stays close to the earth. The earth gets too warm. Some people say this is happening now.

Sometimes pollutants float high into the air. They destroy the ozone there. Then harmful rays from the sun can get down to earth. Right now there is a hole in the ozone layer over the South Pole.

Cars also release many pollutants into our air.

Planting a tree is a good way to keep our air clean and healthy.

People can stop putting so many pollutants in the air. They can stop driving so much. They can find fuels that dont make pollutants. They can make better cars, trucks, and planes.

Factories can find cleaner ways to make things. They can find safer ways to get rid of pollutants. If people do these things, they will have cleaner air.

People can also stop cutting down so many trees. They can plant new trees. Then there wont be so much carbon dioxide in the air, and the earth wont get too warm.

People can stop putting pollutants into the air that destroy the ozone layer. Then the ozone layer will keep harmful rays away from the earth.

People can make laws for clean air, too. We already have laws for better cars and fuel. But people must make more laws like these.

Countries must work together on laws. Then everyone must obey the laws.

Keeping our air clean will cost money. It will take work. But clean air is worth it!

Recycle paper.

You can help keep air clean, too. Here are some things that you can do.

• Turn off lights, computers, and TVs when you are not using them. That will save fuel.
• Close doors behind you when you go in or out. That will keep warm (or cool) air inside and save fuel too.
• Walk or ride your bike. Its good for you, and youll save more fuel.
• Plant a tree. It will use carbon dioxide. If you cant plant one by your home, see if you can in a nearby park, or at school.