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Environmental Science > Atmosphere and Air pollution > Flashcards

Atmosphere and Air pollution Flashcards

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1
Q

Daily changes in temperature, wind, precipitation, wind speed, atmospheric pressure, cloudiness

A

Weather

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2
Q

Long-term temperature and precipitation trends
Average of weather conditions over 30 years

A

Climate

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3
Q

Thin layer around Earth, protects from UV Radiation, regulates climate
Storage of gases____
Dissipates pollutants
Has aerosols

A

Atmosphere: 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, 1% argon, CO2, water vapor, other gases

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4
Q

Where weather occurs, water cycle and breathing air
Around 10km
99% of water vapor found here
Higher is lower air pressure, lower temperature, lower air density

A

Troposphere

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5
Q

Ozone layer is found here; GHG effects occur
10km above ground
Higher is increase in temperature due to Ozone absorption of UV Rays
Lacks turbulence, updrafts of troposphere beneath
Commercial jets fly below this layer to avoid turbulence

What happens when there is a lack of vertical convection?

A

Stratosphere

Bad chemicals can linger for a long time

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6
Q

Breakdown of meteors; high concentration of iron and metal atoms
50km above ground
Higher is lower temperature and lower air pressure
Coldest layer in earth
Can’t breath because air is thin; low air density

What are the odd electrical charges?

A

Mesosphere

Sprites

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7
Q

90km above ground
High energy x-rays and UV is absorved from sun
Higher is increase in temperature
Lowest air density among the layers; like outer space, satellites orbit here
Infrequent gas collisions
X-ray and UV break molecules apart
Super hot but feels cold because no molecules to absorb heat
Varies in height due to puff up caused by absorption of radiation; generates drag force for satellites
Auroras occur here; charged particles collide with atoms and molecules exciting them into higher energy

A

Thermosphere

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8
Q

No clear boundary
Very very very thin air
Small portions of atmosphere leaks into space

A

Exosphere

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9
Q

In mesosphere and thermosphere
Vary night and day; D disappears, E weakens, F Remains
Electrically charged atoms and molecules by sun called ions stay in these areas

A

Ionosphere

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10
Q

Reflectance of whiteness
Clouds reflect suns energy back into space
Helps lower earths temperature
Increase water vapor; increase clouds; increase ____
Decease in ___; radiation; higher temeprature

A

Albedo

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11
Q

Gases trap heat in atmosphere from surface
Atmosphere transmits sunlight but traps some heat

A

Greenhouse Gas effect

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12
Q

Natural GHGE enhanced with increasing concentrations of GHG in atmosphere

A

Enhanced Greenhouse Gas Effect

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13
Q

Colorless, highly reactive
Major component of photochemical smog
Absorbs energy from incoming UV Radiation from sun

A

Ozone

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14
Q

Substance released at a concentration sufficient to harm

A

Air pollutant

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15
Q

Part of biogeochemical cycles
Natural hazards: ___,___,___,___

A

Natural Sources: eruption, sandstorms, pollen and decaying matter, forests (terpene and isoprene that attract pollinators and identify air quality)

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16
Q

Released in concentrated regions in concentrated areas and disrupt natural cycles
Released faster than natural cleansing mechanisms

What are the three sources?

A

Anthropogenic sources:
Mobile - transportation
Stationary - power plants
Area - farms; cities

17
Q

Harmful when released directly into air from natural processes and human activity
Give example

A

Primary pollutants: Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Oxides, Sulfur Dioxide, particulate matter 2.5 and 10, hydrocarbons

18
Q

Interaction of primary pollutants reacting with basic component of air that causes bad chemicals
Give examples

A

Secondary pollutants: Ozone, sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid, nitric oxide, nascent oxygen

19
Q

Carbon compound + oxidant + Nitrogen = carbon dioxide + water + nitrogen oxides and VOCs

A

Complete combustion

20
Q

*Not enough oxygen to oxidize

Carbon compound + oxygen = carbon monoxide + Soot (C) + water + energy

A

Incomplete combustion

21
Q

Pollutant:
Colorless, odorless, highly toxic
Forms during incomplete combustion

What are the effects?

A

Carbon Monoxide (CO); difficult to detect, asphyxiation

22
Q

Pollutant:
Colorless, odorless
93% from natural cycle, 7% from anthropogenic sources

What are its effects?

A

Carbon Dioxide (CO2); asthma, difficulty breathing, pollution

23
Q

Pollutant:
Colorless; forms at high combustion temperatures in cars and power plants
4 types

What are its effects?

A

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx): Nitrogen Monoxide (NO), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Nitric Acid (HNO3) from water vapor and NO, or Nitrate (NO3)

Causes photochemical smog and Nitric acid rain

24
Q

Pollutant:
Odorless, colorless, non-flammable gas
GHG from fertilizer and animal waste and fossil fuels

What are its effects?

A

Nitrous Oxide (N2O); absorbs radiation and traps heat in atmosphere, lead to global warming

25
Q

Pollutant:
Colorless; 1/3 from natural cycle 2/3 from anthropogenic sources
Becomes secondary pollutant when added with water

What are its effects?

A

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2); causes Sulfurous Acid Rain (H2SO3) and Sulfuric Acid Rain (H2SO4) when binds with oxygen first

26
Q

Pollutant:
Suspended in air
62% natural and 38% anthropogenic
Lead, Cadmium, Ozone …

What are its effects?

A

Particulate matter (Pm2.5 and PM 10): can cause health problems such as as respiratory issues and change climate

27
Q

Pollutant:
Organic compounds; hydrocarbons produced by trees: ____ and ____
1/3 Natural, 2/3 anthropogenic
Rice paddies, land fills, flatulence

What are its effects?

A

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): isoprene and terpene; contributors to formation of ozone

28
Q

Effects of air pollution:
2 types
Mix of sulfur dioxide, soot, fly ash, and VOC; formed when what?
NOx and VOCs react with sunlight; formed when what?

A

Industrial Smog formed when burning coal and a result of primary pollutants
Photochemical Smog formed mainly due to secondary pollutants and emissions from motor vehicles:(sunlight breaks NO2 and nascent Oxygen binds with oxygen molecule causing Ozone formation in troposphere)

29
Q

Effects of air pollution:
Has a pH of 3-5
Dissolved CO2 in water
Dissolved Nitric acid, sulfur dioxide

3 types

What are its effects?

A

Acid Rain: Nitric Acid, Sulfurous and sulfuric acid

Cause premature leaf fall and branch dieback. Soil becomes less fertile and discoloration and weathering of buildings

30
Q

Effects of Air pollution:
Caused by CFC; how?
CFC stays in stratosphere 55-140 years
Certain alternatives but still bad

A

Ozone Depletion;
1. UV breaks down oxygen molecule, nascent Oxygen binds with oxygen molecule making O3
2. UV breaks down CFC, Chlorine steals oxygen from O3 making Hypochlorite (ClO)
3. Nascent Oxygens steals oxygen from hypochlorite to make chlorine atom and oxygen molecule
4. Repeats causing feedback

Alternatives:
HCFC: decompose faster, no build up in atmosphere
HFC: flammable, still causes global warming

31
Q

24 countries called for CFC reduction by 50% by 1990

90 countries vowed to stop all production of CFC and halons by 2000 in 1990

A

Montreal Protocol

32
Q

Control import of Ozone depleting substances (ODS)

A

Philippine Ozone Desk

33
Q

Banning of HFC alternatives and CFC

A

Kigali Amendment

34
Q

Green House Gas Effect, what are the percentages of sunlight absorption and reflection?

A

45% is absorbed by Earths surfaces
5% is reflected by Earth and atmosphere
25% reflected by atmosphere and anywhere else
25% infrared radiation passes through atmosphere and is re-emitted in all directions by ghg

35
Q

International Body assessing the science related to climate change
Scientific assessments from governments

A

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

36
Q

Holds convention of parties almost every year

A

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

37
Q

Treaty extending UNFCC
Reduce emissions by 5.2% compared to 1990 emissions by 2008
Carbon credit scheme
Extended until 2012

A

Kyoto Protocol

38
Q

Covered 2013-2020
Reduce emissions by 18% of 1990 emissions

A

Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol

39
Q

Limit global warming to well below 2˚C above pre-industrial levels with efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5˚C

A

Paris Agreement: A global climate accord

Environmental Science (14 decks)

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