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Environmental science > Atmospheric Pollution > Flashcards

Atmospheric Pollution Flashcards

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1
Q

SMOKE
What is it?

A

-suspended particles from incomplete combustion

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2
Q

SMOKE
source of smoke

A

-Fireplace
-cigarettes
-diesel engines
-factory’s
-wild forest fires

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3
Q

SMOKE
toxic chemicals found in smoke

A

-heavy metals: aluminium, sulphur, lead

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4
Q

SMOKE
effects of smoke

A

-humans: respiratory problems, eye problems, bronchitis, lung cancer, COPD, carcinogenic (heavy metals)
-plants: particulates settle on leafs, block light, reduce photosynthesis, heavy metals toxic to plants
-non living organisms: particulates adhere to buildings, removal is difficult and expensive, produce more particulates, if in contact with other metals like sulphur can be corrosive
-climate/atmosphere: blocks our sun rays reaching earth, increases albedo due to particulates being flat reflect light

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5
Q

SMOG
what is it?

A

-smoke and fog
-airborne particles and ground level ozone, from car exhaust, coal power stations, paint, cleaning solvents

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6
Q

SMOG
how’s it formed?

A

-when sunlight hits chemicals in atmosphere, smog is formed.
-fog is formed when moist air is cooled and then gets lots of water droplets
-smog is formed when particulates are involved
-smoke in fog is held lower in the atmosphere, more likely to be inhaled

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7
Q

SMOG
what increases smog?

A

-temperature inversion

-this is when overcoming air becomes warmer as the altitude increases

-this is created when:
-clear skys at night (no clouds)
-low winds (keeps cold air at low ground)
-in valley (traps)
-mist/fog in day (increases albedo)

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8
Q

Temperature inversion

A

-overcoming air is warmer than air below
-trapping pollutants
-caused by smog

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9
Q

PHOTOCHEMICAL SMOG
what is it?

A

reactions with chemicals such as NOXs with light

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10
Q

PHOTOCHEMICAL SMOG
pollutants involved with the formation

A

-NOXs from vehicle engines
-VOCs (hydrocarbon gases from petrol stations)
-O3 in the troposphere

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11
Q

PHOTOCHEMICAL SMOG
chemical reactions

A

-NO2 + UV light
(UV light breaks bonds in NO2)
-forming NO + O
-O + O2 forms O3

-NO releases monoatomic oxygen (O)
which is reactive, unstable and reacts with other oxygens producing O2 and O3
-HC floating around near petrol stations

-PANS is formed: much bigger impact on respiratory problems then the other pollutants on their own

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12
Q

PHOTOCHEMICAL SMOG
what other conditions stop pollutants from dispersing making them more dangerous?

A

-temperature inversion
-need to be in a low lying area
-cold temps
-low winds
-clear skys

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13
Q

PHOTOCHEMICAL SMOG
How can we reduce chances of photochemical fog?

A

-vegetation/green barriers to absorb NO2
-fuel stations use activated carbon stations (absorb NOXs)
-low emission zones, can be fined for taking a car into a zone of NOXs
-provided insensitive for electric vehicles (cooler engine don’t produce NOXs)
-oxidise hydrocarbons producing CO2 and H2O
-catalytic converters

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14
Q

Acid precipitation
gases that cause acid rain

A

-SOXs
sulphur from combustion of coal, oxidised and turns into SOXs
reacts with water and produces acid rain H2SO4
-NOXs
-ozone
-hydrocarbons

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15
Q

Acid precipitation
direct effects on non living

A

-corrode buildings (limestone as alkali)
-any building that constrains limestone (concrete and cement, brick, metal work, pipelines, bridges, girders, pile ons)

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16
Q

Acid precipitation
direct effects on living organsims

A

-lichen are very susceptible to acidic conditions
-denatures cells
-kills plants
-pollutes water sources
-once pH of 5 fish eggs can’t hatch, also outside some organisms range of tolerance
-breakdown of outer layer of organisms- root hair on plants, damages stomata
-breaks down anything with exoskeleton as susceptible (cray dish, ants, crabs, corals)

17
Q

Acid precipitation
in-direct effects on living organisms-soil

A

-metals go into solution more easily in acidic conditions
-some metals are essential for plants: copper, aluminium, when leached away plants don’t absorb these, end up absorbing toxic metals

18
Q

Acid precipitation
environmental factors and there affect on severity of acid rain

A

-soil pH
increase in pH less impact of acid rain- areas where bedrock is limestone
-fog
acid rain is not landing like rain, it’s hanging in the air and in contact with everything for longer
-snow/ice
acid locked up as sold, but then when melted all acid is released, causing large decrease in pH

19
Q

Reducing acid precipitation
reducing SOx by natural gas desulphurisation

A

Removal of sulphur before combustion:
-natural gas desulphurisation
-sulphur in form of hydrogen sulphide
-reacts with amine solution (alkali)
-sulphur left behind in solution and removed form gas

20
Q

Reducing acid rain
reducing SOx by crude oils desulphurisation

A

Crude oil desulphurisation (before combustion)
-sulphur in form of sulphur
-sulphur compiles found in crude oil
-can remove sulphur via distillation

21
Q

Reducing acid rain
reducing SOx by coal desulphurisation

A

coal desulphurisation (before combustion)
-sulphur in form of iron pyrites in coal
-crush coal and flow water over top of coal dust
-denser material left behind which is iron pyrites

22
Q

Reducing acid rain
reducing SOx by dry flue - gas desulphurisation

A

dry flue (removal after combustion)
-pass emissions through crushed limestone
-sulphur left behind with calcium bricks
-used to make plaster board

23
Q

Reducing acid rain
reducing SOx by using wet flue - gas desulphurisation

A

-bubble emissions through alkali solution (sodium sulphite)
-produces sodium hydrogen sulphide
-used to neutralise alkali soils

24
Q

Reducing acid rain
reducing NOx using low temperature combustion

A

-high temperature engines draw air that contains nitrogen
-nitrogen binder with triple bond, hot engine breaks bond
-reduced temp of engine by increasing SA for combustion so heat decreases

25
Q

Reducing acid rain
reducing NOx using catalytic converters

A

-breaks bonds in NOx molecules
-nitrogen atoms rejoin and form N2 before being released

26
Q

Reducing acid rain
reducing NOx using urea sprays

A

-if have large amounts of NOx
-react oxides or nitrogen with urea
-breaks NOx apart

27
Q

Tropospheric ozone-O3
sources

A

-secondary pollutant produced by chemical reactions
-involving oxides of nitrogen (NOx)
-NO2—>NO + O (broken by UV light)
-monoatomic oxygen (o) reacts with O2 forming O3

28
Q

Tropospheric ozone-O3
effects

A

-asthma
-lead to photochemical smogs
-acid rain
(secondary pollutants)

29
Q

Tropospheric ozone-O3
controls

A

-reducing primary pollutant production
-hydrocarbons
-combustion engines

30
Q

Carbon monoxide-CO
sources

A

-incomplete combustion of carbon based materials
-shortage of O2

31
Q

Carbon monoxide-CO
effects

A

-binds to haemoglobin, prevents it from carrying oxygen
-brain damage may occur

32
Q

Carbon monoxide-CO
controls

A

-catalytic converters oxides carbon monoxide
-CO+O=CO2
which is less harmful
-CO harmful in confined areas

33
Q

Biotic indicators

A

-living organisms that indicate presence or absence of pollutants

34
Q

Biotic indicator
examples

A

-lichen- presence of acid conditions in the air
-may flies-good water quality
-salmon-fresh water
marsh periwinkle-good marsh quality
-river otters- shows signs of toxic exposure as eat fish

35
Q

What are lichen

A

-fungi and algae
-symbiotic relationship
-crusty——>leafy——>bushy
-crusty increase in acidic conditions
-many different types of lichen
-food indicator of acidic atmospheric conditions
-(presences and amount of SO2 and NOx)

36
Q

What makes a good indicator species?

A

-abundant, common species
-easy to find/ recognise/ identify
-species we would normally find with hollow pollutants
-sensitive to some kind of pollution we’re monitoring

37
Q

Advantages of biotic indicators

A

-monitor current pollution levels and can be compared to past
-monitor of transect
-detect low levels of pollution
-help trace source of pollution
-do not need expensive monitoring equip

38
Q

disadvantages of biotic indicators

A

-sorting samples can be time consuming
-identification can be difficult for inexperienced

Environmental science (12 decks)

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