Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

AP environmental science > Air Pollution > Flashcards

Air Pollution Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Pollution

A

Introduction of a substance or form of energy into the environment that can cause harm to the enviornment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Natural source

A

EX. Volcanic Ash (PM), CO2

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Anthropogenic source

A

Fossil fuel emissions, sewage, excessive nutrients, heat

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Point source

A

A single, identifiable source of a pollutant, exact source is known.
Easier to monitor+regulate (easy to clean)
EX. smoke stack, discharge pipe, leaking tank

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Nonpoint source

A

Diffused and can therefore be difficult to identify, cannot be traced back to a single point of discharge. Nonpoint sources are harder to monitor and regulate. Many sources.
EX. spraying pesticides, runoff from large agricultural regions, urban runoff

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Plume

A

The pattern a pollutant makes as it travels through the environment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Chemical composition

A

How toxic or harmful a pollutant is to living organisms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Persistence

A

How long a pollutant remains in its original form

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Persistent

A

Does not break down
EX. DDT -> remains toxic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Non perisistent

A

Breaks down into less toxic or non toxic forms
EX: Hydrogen peroxide

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Concentration

A

Amount of pollutant per volume (PPM, PPB)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Proactive stance

A

Prevents release of a pollutant.
Less expensive

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Reactive stance

A

Cleanup after the release of a pollutant.
More expensive

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Thermosphere

A

Thickest layer, 300 miles above surface, auroras occur here

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Mesosphere

A

under thermosphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Stratosphere

A

Ozone layer, O3

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Troposphere

A

We live here
Weather, air we breathe, air pollution occurs here

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Primary pollutants

A

Released directly into the atmosphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Secondary pollutants

A

Form from primary pollutants when they react with something in the atmosphere.
EX: SO2 combines with H2O to become H2SO4

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Particulate matter

A

Primary pollutant
Comes from combustion of fossil fuels, industry, construction
Causes respiratory problems, climate change: global COOLING

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Carbon Monoxide

A

Primary pollutant
Combustion of fossil fuels
Prevents delivery of O2 to blood and tissues

22
Q

Carbon dioxide

A

Primary pollutant
Combustion of fossil fuels
Volcanic eruptions
Wildfires
Contributes to greenhouse effect and global climate change

23
Q

Sulfur dioxide

A

Primary pollutant
Combustion of fossil fuels (coal+diesel release mercury)
Smelting
Volcanic eruptions
Toxic to plants and animals
Irritates respiratory system
Component of acid rain HNO3
Photochemical smog tropospheric (ground level) 03

24
Q

Volatile organic compounds

A

Primary pollutant
Combustion of fossil fuels
Gas fumes, glues, paints, solvents
Toxic, can be carcinogenic
Prime agents of tropospheric/ground level O3 and photochemical smog

25
Q

Heavy metals

A

Primary pollutant
Combustion of fossil fuels (coal)
Smelting
Industry
Damage to brain, kidney , and lungs
Sensory impairment, disturbed sensation and lack of coordination

26
Q

Industrial smog (grey air fog)

A

Smoke and fog, smoke pollution
Sulfur oxides SOx and PM
Often occurs in winter months when heating fuel combustion is high

27
Q

Photochemical smog (brown air smog)

A

Several pollutants (mainly from auto exhaust) react with sunlight
Nitrogen oxides and volatile compounds react with heat and sunlight to produce a variety of pollutants
Nitric acid, ozone, PANs, formaldehyde
Decreased visibility, harms human health by irritating the respiratory system, skin and eyes, damages vegetation
Forms in urban areas

28
Q

Normal conditions

A

Warmer air at surface, pollutants rise and dissipate
When it rises, it takes the pollutants with it and disperses it

29
Q

Thermal/temperature inversion

A

The normal temperature gradient is altered as the air at the surface is cooler
Cool air sinks and holds air pollution at the surface. A thermal inversion will trap pollution close to the ground

30
Q

Los Angeles

A

Prone to inversions and smog
Surrounded by mountains, so cold air gets stuck
Poor air quality
High automobile density and sunlight

31
Q

Tropospheric ozone

A

Harmful at the surface
Good up high, bad nearby
Destroys chlorophyll in plants and makes them more susceptible to disease, harmful to lung tissue, respiratory
Reaction that creates tropospheric ozone: car echause + sunlight

32
Q

Wet deposition

A

Sulfuric and nitric acids in precipitation

33
Q

Dry deposition

A

Sulfuric and nitric acid containing particles that settle out of air (PM)

34
Q

Normal rainfall

A

Slightly acidic due to CO2 dissolving in H2O to form dilute carbonic acid
5.6 PH, anything below is acid rain

35
Q

Acid deposition

A

Acidification of lakes and streams
Acidification of soils
Acid frees aluminum from soil
Aluminum is toxic to plants

36
Q

Buffering of lakes and soils

A

Soils with a parent material of limestone and marble can help neutralize acid rain

37
Q

Ozone depletion in the stratosphere

A

Protective O3 is in the lower stratosphere
The ozone layer is important to evolution and survival

38
Q

Ozone depleting compounds

A

ODCs
refrigerators, air conditioners, fire extinguishers, aerosols, ETC

39
Q

Location of Ozone thinning

A

Most thinning occurs in October, its Spring for the southern hemisphere
Occurs due to polar stratospheric clouds

40
Q

Effects of O3 depletion

A

More UV rays
Decreased crop yield
Kills phytoplankton
Skin cancer, cataracts

41
Q

Montreal Protocol

A

Banned CFCs

42
Q

CFC substiutes

A

HFCs
Ozone is healing

43
Q

Negative feedback

A

Causes a system to change in the opposite direction, helps to maintain homeostasis/equilibrium
Desirable

44
Q

Positive feedback

A

Causes a system to change further in the same direction, tends to allow a system to run out of control

45
Q

Atmosphere as a greenhouse

A

Earth’s atmosphere Acts as a greenhouse
Sunlight passes through as shortwave
Energy is absorbed at the surface and reradiates as long wave rays (heat)
Long wave radiation is captured and held by greenhouse gasses
Global temperatures increase in the lower atmosphere

46
Q

CO2

A

Combustion of fossil fuels
Deforestation

47
Q

Methane CH4

A

Fossil fuels burnings, Livestock (manure)
Anaerobic decomposition- wetlands, rice paddies and landfills, release from permafrost

48
Q

Nitrous oxide N2O

A

Combustion of fossil fuels, biomass, fertilizer
Microbes break down fertilizer and add N2O to the atmosphere

49
Q

CFCs

A

Reaction with O3
Cycle
Long residence time in the atmosphere (15-200 years)
cl as a catalyst
Ozone depletion
Old aerosol sprays, refrigerators, air conditioners

50
Q

Keeling curve (Northern hemisphere)

A

Seasonal photosynthesis causes fluctuations

51
Q

Rising sea levels

A

Thermal expansion: More volume
Melting of ice sheets (ice on land): Melts+runs off

AP environmental science (4 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions