Final answer:
The sun and activities in the midwest fields contribute to poor air quality by enabling soil erosion and raising dust storms, while human activities increase atmospheric pollutants, leading to conditions like smog blankets.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sun and the simmering fields of the midwest affect the air by contributing to air quality degradation and altering weather patterns. In historical instances such as during the Dust Bowl, plowing the fields exposed soil to the sun and wind, leading to erosion and the creation of dust storms. These storms were powerful enough to carry topsoil hundreds of miles, contributing to poor air quality and harming human health.
Additionally, activities such as using fossil fuels and urban development have amplified stress on the atmosphere, leading to the build-up of pollutants like soot, hydrocarbons, and oxides. Weather events, such as smog blankets and inversions, can trap these pollutants close to the ground, exacerbating the effects of poor air quality.