10/14/24

Question 1

Industrial smog involves burning ________ coal (or oil)

Answer 1

sulfur-rich

Question 2

Describe the process of smog

Answer 2

Sulfur-rich coal → SO2 - respiratory, cardiovascular;
SO2 → sulfuric acid (acid ppt)
Ammonium sulfate → (eutrophication)

CO2 (GHG)
CO - respiratory

Question 3

London’s 1952 “Killer Smog”

Answer 3

December 1952, thick smog over London
Smog from industrial pollution, fossil-fuel combustion
Killed ca. 10,000 people

Question 4

Photochemical smog

Answer 4

From reaction of sunlight with pollutants (VOCs, ozone)

“Brown-green air smog”

Question 5

What are the biggest threats in developing nations in regards to indoor pollution?

Answer 5

Cigarette smoke: first and secondhand smoke
Indoor fires

Question 6

What are the biggest threats in industrialized nations in regards to indoor pollution?

Answer 6

Cigarette smoke: first and secondhand smoke

Radon: naturally occurring radioactive gas

Question 7

Describe radon gas

Answer 7

Radioactive

Colorless, odorless

Occurs naturally

Question 8

Where does radon gas come from?

Answer 8

Uranium ores

Granite, gneiss, and schist

Question 9

Atmosphere

Answer 9

Layer of gasses surrounding planet

Question 10

What is the atmosphere’s function to humans?

Answer 10

1. Absorbs solar radiation (esp. UV)
2. Transports & recycles water (and other materials)
3. Determines climate

Question 11

Invariant gasses

Answer 11

78% nitrogen
21% oxygen
1% argon

Question 12

What is meant by invariant gasses?

Answer 12

Gasses that are the same everywhere always

Question 13

Variable gases (greenhouse gases):

Answer 13

Water vapor
Carbon dioxide
Methane
Nitrous oxide
Ozone
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Question 14

Climate

Answer 14

long term pattern of atmospheric conditions

Question 15

Global warming

Answer 15

increase in Earth’s average surface temperature

Question 16

Factors that Influence Climate

Answer 16

1. Sun - energy source; provides heat for Earth
2. Atmosphere - absorbs, reflects, transmits energy
3. Oceans - stores, transports energy
   - Moderates heat

Question 18

What did John Tindall find?

Answer 18

atmospheric gasses trap heat

Question 19

What did Eunice Foot find?

Answer 19

CO2 could absorb heat

Question 20

What was Svante Arrhenius trying to answer and what did he find?

Answer 20

“Why were there a number of ice ages?”

if CO2 dropped by 50%, Europe would be 4-5C colder on average

Greenhouse gasses are responsible for trapping heat

Question 21

Global warming potential

Answer 21

relative ability of one molecule of a greenhouse gas to contribute to global warming over 100 years

Question 22

GWP of carbon dioxide

Answer 22

1

Question 23

GWP of methane

Answer 23

23

Question 24

GWP of nitrous oxide

Answer 24

296

Question 25

GWP of hydrochlorofluorocarbon HFC-23

Answer 25

12,000

Question 26

What are the take-home messages of CO2 and surface temperature?

Answer 26

Since humans in the industrial revolution began contributing to atm CO2, concentration has spiked significantly
- Greater increase over a shorter period compared to over thousands of years before human modification
-Current: highest CO2 in past 800,000 years
-CO2 continues to rise
-Temperature lags behind CO2

Pre-industrial: CO2 and average global surface temperature are relatively constant with each other prior to the industrial revolution
- CO2 and global temperature are tightly linked/coupled
- CO2 absorbs heat energy

Global surface temperature and CO2 concentration varied naturally before humans modified the atmosphere

Temperature has varied about 10 C (no human contribution)

Question 27

Carbon dioxide increase due to

Answer 27

Fossil fuel burning
Rainforest clearing
- Introduces CO2 into atmosphere by burning trees

Question 28

Methan is an ______ process

Answer 28

anaerobic

Question 29

How much has methane increased since 1750?

Answer 29

155%

Question 30

What caused the increase of methane since 1750?

Answer 30

Fossil fuel extraction
Landfills (oxygen is absent)
Rice paddies (oxygen is absent)
Cattle (gas digestion)
- Release methane into atmosphere

Question 31

How much has nitrous oxide increased since 1750?

Answer 31

17%

Question 32

What caused an increase in nitrous oxide since 1750?

Answer 32

Auto emissions
Feedlots
Agriculture
chemical industrial release

Question 33

________ cuts CH4 emissions by 40%

Answer 33

Oregano

Question 34

Acidification

Answer 34

Ocean is becoming more acidic
Half of CO2 emitted in atm gets dissolved into ocean
CO2 reacts with water