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Environmental Pollution 1512 > Air Pollution > Flashcards

Air Pollution Flashcards

1
Q

characteristics of NOx

A

NO + NO2, forms ozone

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2
Q

characteristics of O3

A

colourless + odourless, main component in smog

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3
Q

what is combustion?

A

the burning of a substance in the presence of oxygen

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4
Q

what happens with complete combustion?

A

carbon dioxide + water produced

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5
Q

what happens with incomplete combustion?

A

carbon dioxide, water, and unwanted by-products produced

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6
Q

combustion of coal

A

CO, NOx, SO2, PM2.5, heat

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7
Q

what is fuel NOx?

A

reaction of oxygen with nitrogen in fuel

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8
Q

what are the main culprits in smog formation?

A

NOx and VOCs

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9
Q

sources of VOCs (3)

A

combustion - vehicles, construction
non-combustion - power plants, gas stations
natural - trees and plants

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10
Q

formula for formation of ground-level ozone

A

NOx + VOCs + sunlight = O3, PM, organics (secondary pollutants)

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11
Q

what pollutants are lung irritants and cause inflammation in the lungs?

A

NOx and O3

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12
Q

what do catalytic converters do?

A

reduce CO and NOx

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13
Q

when and where does the ozone hole appear?

A

Antarctica, every southern hemisphere spring (Sept-Nov)

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14
Q

qualities of UV-B

A

medium energy, reaches surface a medium amount, responsible for short-term, partially absorbed by ozone

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15
Q

qualities of UV-C

A

highest energy, doesn’t reach the earth’s surface, most dangerous, absorbed by compounds (mainly oxygen)

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16
Q

what does ozone protect from?

A

UV-C radiation (completely) and UV-B radiation (partially)

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17
Q

what was destroying stratospheric ozone? why?

A

CFCs and Halons, contain chlorine and bromine respectively

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18
Q

what were CFCs introduced to the market as?

A

Freon

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19
Q

how do CFCs destroy ozone? (explanation)

A

when CFC molecules are in the stratosphere, they react with UV light and break apart to release chlorine. this chlorine breaks ozone apart

20
Q

how do Halons destroy ozone? (explanation)

A

when Halon molecules are in the stratosphere, they react with UV light and break apart to release bromine. this bromine breaks ozone apart

21
Q

why is the ozone hole only in antarctica?

A

pollutants travel to the north and south poles, and artarctica is the only place cold enough for PSCs (polar stratospheric clouds) which contain ice crystals and act as a surface for ozone depleting reactions to occur

22
Q

what is another source of ozone depletion? how?

A

volcanoes - some eruptions are violent enough to spew particles and gases into the stratosphere. like PSCs, this provides a surface for ozone-destroying reactions to occur

23
Q

what do greenhouse gases do?

A

they absorb and re-emit thermal infrared radiation

24
Q

define back radiation

A

IR being pushed back to the surface

25
Q

is the greenhouse effect natural?

A

yes, it’s natural and essential for human survival

26
Q

define anthropogenic global warming

A

increase in earth’s temperature above what’s from the natural greenhouse effect from human emissions

27
Q

how are ozone and greenhouse gases different?

A

ozone prevents harmful UV rays from reaching the surface whereas greenhouse gases keep IR from leaving

28
Q

greenhouse gases (most-least important) + aerosal

A

carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide + black carbon

29
Q

does carbon dioxide absorb IR radiation better?

A

no, there’s just more of it present, making it the most important greenhouse gas

30
Q

how much of current warming experienced on earth is due to CO2?

A

75%

31
Q

main source of CO2 and %

A

fossil fuel combustion, 80%

32
Q

fossil fuels that emit CO2 (highest-lowest emissions)

A

coal > gasoline > natural gas

33
Q

2nd largest source of anthropogenic CO2

A

deforestation

34
Q

why is deforestation a source of CO2 emissions?

A

trees store carbon so cutting them down releases CO2 into the atmosphere, it also means less trees to absorb the CO2 in the first place

35
Q

what are natural emission sources of CO2?

A

respiration, volcanoes, decomposition of dad matter, oceans

36
Q

2nd largest source of warming, %, and effectiveness at absorbing IR

A

methane, 20%, 25x better than CO2

37
Q

sources of methane from human activities

A

energy related: coal mining - natural gas deposits underground release CH4, natural gas production and transportation
agriculture (cows, rice paddies)
waste management

38
Q

sources of methane from natural sources

A

wetlands - microbes and bacteria produce CH4
termites - digestion
oceans - decomposition of aquatic plants and fish by microbes

39
Q

2 worrisome future sources of methane

A

methane hydrates and permafrost

40
Q

what are methane hydrates?

A

they’re solid cages of ice with HC4 inside found deep underground in polar regions and ocean sediments. these solid cages are melting and releasing CH4 into the atmosphere

41
Q

what is permafrost?

A

frozen soil in very cold areas (alaska, northern canada) are melting due to global warming and freeing trapped methane

42
Q

3rd largest source of warming + details

A

very little in the atmosphere, 300x more effective at absorbing IR

43
Q

is nitrous oxide a NOx molecule?

A

no

44
Q

what is the main source of nitrous oxide?

A

microbes that break down nitrogen in soil and oceans

45
Q

how are humans accelerating nitrous oxide emissions?

A

humans are adding fertilizer containing nitrogen to soil

Environmental Pollution 1512 (2 decks)

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