ATMOSPHERE Flashcards
mixture of gases that surround the Earth
atmosphere
made up of 5 layers, the innermost two of which contain most of these gases
- troposphere
- stratosphere
- mesosphere
- thermosphere
- exosphere
- atmospheric layer nearest the Earth’s surface
- contains most of the planet’s air
- mixture of gases that people depend on to stay alive
- made up of ______, ______, ______ of other gases like ______, ______, ______, _______
TROPOSPHERE
- 78% nitrogen
- 21% oxygen
- 1% mixture
- carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, helium, and argon
- also contains water vapor in variable amounts depending on temperature
- responsible for maintaining the conducive temperature of the earth, allowing various organisms to thrive
TROPOSPHERE
- Earth’s second layer of air
- contains much of the atmosphere’s ozone gas (O3), which lies in a sub-layer of the lower stratosphere known as the _______
- serves as a sunscreen for the planet by filtering out about ____ of the sun’s harmful _________ before it can reach the Earth’s surface
STRATOSPHERE
- ozone layer
- 95%
- ultraviolet (UV) radiation
causing problems in the atmosphere - problems that are affecting us in a global scale
anthropogenic activities
four major problems involving the atmosphere
- global warming
- air pollution
- acid deposition
- ozone depletion
refers to the accelerating rate in the increase of the average global temperature
- due to the rapid increase in _________ found in the atmosphere due to anthropogenic activities
GLOBAL WARMING
- ## greenhouse gases
Solar radiation that reaches the surface of the earth is absorbed and then re-emitted back by the heated surface as __________
- This is the heat that we feel if we touch a surface that has absorbed solar radiation
infrared radiation (IR)
Technically, if there is no atmosphere, the infrared radiation freely escapes into space.
- However, the heat absorbing components of the atmosphere prevent the IR from escaping, thus the heat is trapped on earth, much like the heat trapped in a farmer’s greenhouse, thus the name ____________
- greenhouse effect
Among the components of the atmosphere, ______ and ______ absorb little or no radiation.
However, the minor components are the effective absorbers of IR particularly ______ and _____.
- These gases are responsible for the greenhouse effect thus called ________.
- nitrogen and oxygen
- carbon dioxide and water vapor
- greenhouse gases
Once IR is absorbed by greenhouse gases, it is once again re-emitted in all directions, warming the surrounding air.
So, warming the earth is an especially important natural process. The Earth would be too cold for most life if it were not for the greenhouse effect.
Unfortunately, the amount of greenhouse gases has increased rapidly over the years due to human activities.
The more the greenhouse gas, the more heat is trapped by the atmosphere, the warmer the earth.
This is what we now call __________-
global warming
explain greenhouse effect
In the early 1980s, climate scientists became increasingly concerned about rising average annual atmospheric temperatures and CO2 levels might affect the global climate.
In 1988, the _____________, which includes climate scientists and other experts, was formed in response to these concerns.
They agreed on 3 points:
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
- Since 1980, the lower atmosphere on average has WARMED at an accelerating rate by about 1.4 °F and CO2 levels have been increasing since 1958.
- Computer models and other data indicate that most of the temperature increase since 1980 is DUE TO HUMAN ACTIVITIES, especially the burning of fossil fuels, which has raised atmospheric CO2 levels, and the rapid clearing of forests and other vegetation.
- The CLIMATE IS BEGINNING TO CHANGE, and if human activities that promote such change continue at their current or higher rates, the Earth will likely experience further rapid atmospheric warming and long-term climate disruption during this century and the next.
natural greenhouse effect vs human enhanced greenhouse effect
A natural process where greenhouse gases (GHGs) like carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and water vapor trap some of the Sun’s heat, keeping Earth warm enough to support life.
Without it, Earth’s average temperature would be about -18°C instead of the current ~15°C, making it too cold for most life.
Human enhanced greenhouse effect, on the other hand, is an increase in the greenhouse effect due to human activities, leading to global warming and climate change. It is the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas), deforestation, and industrial emissions, which release excess CO₂ and CH₄ into the atmosphere.
Since the pre-industrial period, human activities are estimated to have increased Earth’s global average temperature by about ___ degree Celsius (___ degrees Fahrenheit), a number that is currently increasing by ___ degrees Celsius (___ degrees Fahrenheit) per decade (NASA)
- 1 degree celsius (1.8* F)
- 0.2 degrees celsius (0.36* F)
ANTHROPOGENIC CAUSES OF GLOBAL WARMING
- burning of fossil fuel
- deforestation
- agriculture and farming practices
- Fossil fuels such as _____, _____, _____ are formed for millions of years from buried remains of plants and animals, thus rich in __________
- When these are burned, the carbon content is released into the atmosphere in the form of __________, a major greenhouse gas
- there are also the increased amounts of tiny particles in the lower atmosphere that scientists call ‘_________’ (______ or ______)
BURNING OF FOSSIL FUEL
- coal, crude oil, and natural gas
- carbon content
- carbon dioxide
- black carbon (soot or smoke)
- the resulting layer of black particles in the lower atmosphere absorbs heat like a black blanket contributing to the warming effect of atmospheric particles
- Although _______ falls out of the lower atmosphere in days, while it is suspended in the air, it absorbs the sun’s heat millions of times more effectively than CO2.
Overall, it is considered the ______ biggest contributor to global warming after CO2.
- ______, another greenhouse gas, is also released in the atmosphere by this process
BURNING OF FOSSIL FUELS
- black carbon
- second
- Methane
- _________ absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
- ______ are the largest photosynthetic organisms and responsible for absorbing the greatest amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
- Most trees on earth are found in forests, making these ecosystems especially important in regulating the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
DEFORESTATION
- Photosynthetic organisms
- Trees
- Human activities that lead to the removal or destruction of vast amounts of trees is called __________
- Reducing the trees available for carbon dioxide absorption relates to an increase in this greenhouse gas and therefore an increase in global warming
DEFORESTATION
- ________ is a greenhouse gas that is produced by the _____________ of organic matter, such as animal wastes and dead plant materials, which is a natural process
- however, increased agricultural activities have also greatly increased the amount of organic matter available for anaerobic decomposition, being the number one cause of methane release in the atmosphere
AGRICULTURE AND FARMING PRACTICES
- methane
- anaerobic decomposition
Some of the effects of global warming, indicative of climate change include:
- melting and shrinking of ice sheets in the Arctic Sea, decrease snow cover of ice-capped mountains, and glacial retreat, all of which bring about a rise in sea level and coastal submersion
- intensified weather disturbances that bring about intense rain and wind (la Niña phenomenon), as well as prolonged droughts and heat wave (el Niño phenomenon)
- biomes are defined by their climatic characteristics, to which organisms are adapted to. Change in climatic conditions of biomes likewise affect organismal survival and decreases biodiversity and loss of ecological balance
- food crops are likewise vulnerable to climatic changes, leading to a decline in the food supply of the global population
- high rates of evaporation dry up lands, reduce freshwater supply, and lead to desertification
a long-term change in the average weather patterns that have come to define Earth’s local, regional, and global climates
climate change
climate change vs global warming
GLOBAL WARMING
- long-term increase in Earth’s average temperature due to rising greenhouse gas emissions.
- Burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial activities releasing excess CO₂ and CH₄ into the atmosphere.
- Effects: Hotter temperatures🔥, Melting glaciers & rising sea levels🌊, More heatwaves ☀️
CLIMATE CHANGE
- broad term that includes global warming plus all the other changes in Earth’s climate, such as weather patterns, precipitation, and extreme events
- Natural factors (volcanoes, solar cycles) + human activities (greenhouse gases, pollution, land use changes).
- Effects: Stronger hurricanes & typhoons🌪️, More droughts & floods🌧️, Shifts in ecosystems & wildlife habitats 🐻❄️
global warming and climate change FEEDBACK
- snow cover reduction and reduced sunlight reflection
- atmospheric water vapor increase
- permafrost melt and methane release
global warming and climate change EFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT
A. Habitat Destruction
- ecosystem collapse
- biodiversity loss, species extinction
B. Intensification of extreme weather events
C. Glacial retreat, ice sheet melt
- fresh water loss and desertification
- sea level rise and coastal submersion
D. Disease carrier and pest propagation
E. Coral bleaching, fish stock decline
global warming and climate change EFFECTS ON HUMANS
A. Flooding of cities and farmlands
B. Crop failure and farmland loss
C. Human migration and conflict
D. Direct physical harm to humans (extreme weather events)
E. Direct impact on human health (Disease)
DEALING WITH GLOBAL WARMING
- decrease fossil fuel use
- reforestation and afforestation
- enacting global and national laws and agreements
- sustainable land management
- Conservation of energy
- Use of renewable energy resources such as solar energy, wind energy, hydrogen energy, ocean energy, hydro power, geothermal power, and bioenergy
decrease fossil fuel use
- The importance of trees in reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide cannot be stressed enough
reforestation and afforestation
- Steep penalties for non-compliant industries and businesses
- Regulating and taxing carbon dioxide emissions of companies
enacting global and national laws and agreements
- Sustainable land management
- Managing livestock to reduce methane emission
- Crop management to avoid methane and nitrous oxides, such as from fertilizers
sustainable land management
_________ is the presence of chemicals in the air, called _________, at levels high enough to harm humans, other organisms, ecosystems, or human-made materials.
- air pollution
- air pollutants
include all chemicals that are emitted directly into the air from natural processes and human activities and that are build up to harmful levels
primary air pollutants
harmful chemicals that form in the air by reacting with primary pollutants or with chemicals naturally found in the air
secondary air pollutants
major air pollutants
- sulfur dioxide
- nitrogen oxide
- carbon monoxide
- ozone and photochemical oxidants
- lead
- particulate matter
- mercury from coal
sncolpm
CAUSES AND SOURCES OF AIR POLLUTION
- indoor/household pollution
- outdoor ambient air pollution
- Solid fuels such as charcoal, peat, coal, wood pellets, corn, wheat, rye and other grains that can be burnt to release energy
- Kerosene for cooking or oil lamps release the pollutants ethylene, Sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide
- products with volatile organic compound (VOCs) such as air fresheners and cleaning products
indoor/household pollution
- any activity that involves burning releases pollutants in the atmosphere
- agricultural pesticides
outdoor ambient air pollution
EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION
- formation of photochemical smog and rain
- depletion of nutrients from soil and waterways
- can harm forests and crops
- damage cultural icons such as monuments and statues
- respiratory and related health problems
SOLUTIONS TO AIR POLLUTION
- air pollution cleanup strategies
- pollution prevention
- enacting laws against air pollution
- any method that involves collecting and disposing of air pollutants after they have been produced
- Example: directly collecting air pollutants from smokestacks, usually already in ash form to be buried somewhere.
air pollution cleanup strategies
- focuses on eliminating or sharply reducing the production of air pollutants
- Examples: use of solar cells and wind turbines (renewable energy resources) to produce electricity instead of burning fossil fuels, stop cigarette smoking, avoiding household materials that contain harmful chemicals, etc.
pollution prevention
- like the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999
- designating smoking areas, etc.
enacting laws against air pollution
__________, also called _________, refers to acidic particles and droplets falling from the air or washed out of the air by precipitation onto land and into aquatic systems.
Depending on the prevailing winds, precipitation, and other weather factors, these acidic chemicals remain in the atmosphere for two days to two weeks.
- Acid deposition
- acid rain
Gravity and precipitation eventually return the suspended particles and droplets to the earth’s surface in two forms.
- wet deposition
- dry deposition
consists of acidic rain, snow, fog, and cloud vapor
wet deposition
made up of acidic particles
dry deposition
CAUSES AND SOURCES OF ACID DEPOSITION
Coal burning facilities and vehicles emit _______ and _______ into the atmosphere.
After release, these molecules form acids in two ways.
- First, they can be deposited on the earth’s surface in the form of dry deposition and are converted to acid when they are mixed with water.
- Wet depositions are formed when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react with atmospheric water and oxygen to form ___________ and ___________.
They are then deposited to earth as rain, snow, or sleet.
- sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx)
- sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and nitric acid (HNO3)
EFFECTS OF ACID DEPOSITION
- respiratory diseases
- Leaching of toxic metals such as lead and copper from water pipes into drinking water
- Damages statues, buildings, metals, and car finishes. Limestone and marble are especially susceptible.
- Increased acidity on aquatic ecosystems:
➢ As the pH approaches 5, some species of plankton and mosses may begin to invade and populations of fishes may start to die
➢ Below a pH of 4.5, most fishes die
➢ Aluminum ions attached to the soil can be released into lakes where they kill populations of fishes
➢ toxic mercury emitted by smokestacks can contaminate the waters - Damage to crops (especially at when soil pH falls below 5.1)
- prevents seed germination
- Leach essential plant nutrients such as calcium and magnesium
- Weaken trees and other plants so they become more susceptible to other types of damage
SOLUTIONS TO ACID DEPOSITION
- cleanup strategies
- prevention
- enacting laws against air pollution
- adding lime or phosphate to neutralize acidified lakes
cleanup strategies
(acid deposition)
- use of solar cells and wind turbines (renewable energy resources) to produce electricity instead of burning fossil fuels, increase the use of natural gas, burn low-sulfur coal, etc.
prevention (acid deposition)
- like the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999
enacting laws against air pollution (acid deposition)
_________ air pollutant that causes lung damage and asthma attacks.
But 10 to 30 miles above the Earth’s surface (16-48 km), ozone molecules protect life on Earth.
ozone (O3)
They help shield our planet from harmful solar radiation. Ozone in the stratosphere forms when the two oxygen atoms in an O2 molecule are broken apart by the energy of sunlight.
Each lone oxygen atom can then combine with a different O2 molecule to form O3, ozone.
The __________ is the portion of the stratosphere where ozone molecules are present, mixed in among the other gases that comprise the atmosphere.
- ozone layer
most harmful varieties of UV radiation
UV-B and UV-C
The ozone layer is where about 90% of the ozone in the Earth system is found. But ozone makes up only one to ten out of every million molecules in the ozone layer. (The rest of the molecules are mostly nitrogen and oxygen.)
______ absorbs the most energetic wavelengths of ultraviolet light, known as UV-C and UV-B, wavelengths that harm living things.
Oxygen molecules absorb other forms of ultraviolet light, too.
Together, ozone and oxygen molecules are able to absorb ___ to ___ of the ultraviolet radiation that gets to our planet.
When UV light is absorbed by oxygen and ozone, heat is generated, which is why the stratosphere gets warmer with altitude.
- Ozone
- 95 to 99.9%
CAUSE OF OZONE LAYER DEPLETION
________ is a highly reactive gas.
Its concentration in the atmosphere naturally fluctuates depending on seasons and latitudes, but it generally was stable when global measurements began in 1957.
Groundbreaking research in the 1970s and 1980s revealed signs of trouble.
- ## Ozone (O3)
two chemists at the University of California, Irvine, published an article detailing threats to the ozone layer from _____________
- Mario Molina
- Sherwood Rowland
chlorofluorocarbon gases
At the time, CFCs were commonly used in aerosol sprays and as coolants in many refrigerators.
As they reach the stratosphere, the sun’s UV rays break CFCs down into substances that include chlorine.
One atom of chlorine can destroy more than 100,000 ozone molecules, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, eradicating ozone much more quickly than it can be replaced.
_______: an area of the stratosphere with extremely low concentrations of ozone that reoccurs every year at the beginning of the Southern Hemisphere spring (August to October)
_______: in the stratosphere knocks loose a chlorine atom from the molecule, which can then destroy numerous ozone molecules.
- hole
- UV light
Ozone Formation and Destruction:
_________: begins when CFC’s get into stratosphere
_________: from the sun breaks up these CFCs
The breaking up action releases ____________.
- depletion
- ultraviolet radiation
- chlorine atoms
EFFECTS OF OZONE DEPLETION
- effect on climate
- effect on human beings
- effect on biotic communities
a. A hole in the ozone layer decreases the temperature of the adjacent troposphere, making it colder than usual, which increases air circulation that affects wind patterns, weather, and climate.
b. CFCs also cause increase of CO2. Depletion of O3 leads to increase of H2O2 in troposphere.
c. Induces acid rain formation.
effects on climate
a. Increases incidences of Skin cancer
b. Decrease in immunity level makes people prone to infectious diseases
c. Retards physical growth and affects mental development of human beings
effects on human beings
a. Decrease in photosynthesis by plants
b. Fertilized crops are affected easily by UV radiation
c. When the amount of P increases resistivity to UV radiation decreases
d. Rate of evaporation of water increases which results reduction in soil moisture
e. Phytoplankton are also affected
effects on biotic communities
Protection and Maintenance of O3 layer
Recognition of the harmful effects of CFCs and other ozone-depleting substances led to the ______________________ in 1987, a landmark agreement to phase out those substances that has been ratified by all 197 UN member countries.
Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer
__________, transitional substitutes that are less damaging but still harmful to ozone, are still in use
hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)
Developing countries need funding from the Montreal Protocol’s Multilateral Fund to eliminate the most widely used of these, the ____________.
The next generation of coolants, ______________, do not deplete ozone, but they are powerful greenhouse gases that trap heat, contributing to climate change.
- refrigerant R-22
- hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
Though HFCs represent a small fraction of emissions compared with carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, their planet-warming effect prompted an addition to the Montreal Protocol, the ___________, in 2016.
The amendment, which came into force in January 2019, aims to slash the use of HFCs by more than 80 percent over the next three decades.
In the meantime, companies and scientists are working on climate friendly alternatives, including new coolants and technologies that reduce or eliminate dependence on chemicals.
- Kigali Amendment
- To promote reduction in the production and consumption of O3 depleting chemicals
- Produce and propagate use of alternative chemicals
- Enactment of Montreal Protocol
