atmospheric issues Flashcards
Air pollutant
Airborne particles and gases that occur in concentrations that endanger health and well-being of organisms, or disrupt the orderly functioning of the environment
Primary Air Pollutant
a chemical that has been added directly to the air by natural events and occurs in harmful concentrations
Secondary Air Pollutant
harmful chemical formed in the atmosphere by reacting with normal air components or other air pollutants
Brief resident time
local impacts over a short period of time
example of brief resident time
vehicle exhaust
Longer resident time
regional to global impacts over long periods
example of longer resident time
greenhouse gases and ozone depleters
What type of pollutants are most harmful to humans?
carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter
Where does carbon monoxide come from
from incomplete fuel combustion
Where does nitrogen oxide come from
reaction of nitrogen and oxygen due to high engines
Where does volatile organic compounds come from
from industrial solvents and vehicles
Where does sulfur dioxide come from
from electricity and energy
Where does particulate matter come from
from dust and combustion processes
Major sources of air pollution (general categories)
natural, stationary, mobile
Major specific sources of air pollution
transportation (mobile), fuel combustion, solid waste disposal, industrial processes
What is our most common air quality problem
Smog
What did smog first mean
smoke and fog
Two types of smog
industrial and photo chemical
Smog capital of U.S.
Los angeles
Smog capital of the world
Mexico city
Ranking pollutants for what they are
1) Carbon monoxide
2) Nitrogen Oxides
3) Volatile Organics
4) Sulfur Oxides
5) Particulates
Ranking pollutants for where they come from
1) Transportation
2) Stationary source fuel combustion
3) Industrial process
4) Miscellaneous
5) Solid Wast disposal
What kind of weather make smog worse
Hot weatehr
Where was the world’s first air pollution disaster
Belgium
When and where was the first U.S. air pollution
donora, pa 1948 from a steel mill
World’s worst air pollution
london, england
Clear air act of 1970 and 1977
Gave federal government authority to control air pollution
How does acid rain form
as water evaporte, dissoulved particles are left behind and precipitation collects it
What causes acid rain
air pollution
What are the two major components to acid rain
sulfuric and nitric acids
Why is time important in acid rain formation
because the longer emitted SO2 and NOx remains in the air, the more likely acid rain will form
possible solution to acid rain problem
1) reduce SO2 and NOx emmissions
What is the number one cause of environmental cancer risk
IAP
Major indoor air pollutants
formaldehyde, asbestos, cigarette smoke, radon
how many poisonous compounds are there in cigarettes
4500
what is radon
a radioactive colorless, tasteless, gas
How is radon produced
naturally from uranium in rocks and soil
Stratospheric Ozone
a natural component of the stratosphere which is created and destroyed naturally at an equal rate
What is the major human source of ozone destruction
Chlorofluorocarbons
What destroys good ozone
chlorine atom triggering chemical reactions
How long can cfc’s remain in the stratosphere destroying good ozone
50-100 yrs
Major sources of CFC’s
foaming agents, cleaning agents, refrigerants, halon, aerosol
Major problem with ozone depletion
the amount of uvb radiation reaching earth’s surface
What effect does the ozone layer have on the earth’s surface
has direct effect on the stratosphere through its ability to absorb SW.
What indirect effect does the ozone have on earth
Indirectly effects the troposphere by reducing the amount of insolation reaching surface
What happens if less UV is absorbed the the ozone
the stratosphere will become cooler
What happens if more UV is absorbed through the ozone
troposphere will become warmer
Montreal Protocol
promised to stop CFC production by 2000
How many countries have signed the montreal protocol
190
Major substitute of CFC
HCFC
What is Weather
short term daily atmospheric conditions for a given time at a specific place
What is Climate
a description of aggregate weather conditions over 30-50 years
How long has climatic data been collected
100 years
Seafloor sediments
number and type of organism found reflect temperature of air in the past
What is the oxygen isotope analysis used for seafloor sediment
18o and 16o
Ice cores
Snow that falls in polar regions becomes part of the ice pack
When is 18o more abundant in precipitation
When it is warmer
Tree rings
characteristics of tree ring reflect annual climatic conditions
What is the most accurate climate change detection method
tree rings
The Greenhouse Effect
physical process where solar energy is transmitted relatively easily through the atmosphere and long wave energy is partially absorbed
What major greenhouse gases come from carbon dioxide
burning fossil fuels and slash and burn
What is the percentage of total green house gasses that come from carbon dioxide
50-60%
What is the percentage of total green house gasses that come from methane
12-20%
What major greenhouse gases come from methane
live stock, rice paddies
percent of CFC in greenhouse gasses
15-25%
Percent of nitrous oxide in greenhouse gasses
5%
Feedbacks
if one thing happens, it influences the occurrence of something else
Positive feedback
enhance global warming
Negative feedback
reduce global warmijng
Climate models
computer programs that run on world’s largest computer
“no regrets” policy
help prevents global warming if its occuring
