Atmospheric Science Flashcards
On average, a normal adult takes _ breaths a minute. Every breath you take contains a combination of _.
12; gases, chemicals, solid particles, and insects
The _ is the layer of the Earth’s biomes that contains the gases that surround us.
Atmosphere
78% of the atmosphere is _ and 21% is _.
Nitrogen gas; oxygen
Layers of the atmosphere:
Troposphere (closest to Earth)
Stratosphere (contains 03 - ozone)
Mesosphere
Thermosphere (hottest)
On average, troposphere air temperature declines _ for each kilometer in altitude.
6°C
Air also contains a good amount of _.
Water vapor
The movement of water particles through the atmosphere is driven by _. The differences of warm moist air at the surface and cold dry air at high elevations causes a motion called _.
Solar energy; convective circulation
Ultimately the _ of the troposphere drive weather.
Physical properties (temperature, pressure, humidity, and wind)
Weather
The atmospheric conditions at a given time (example: 60°F); caused by solar radiation and tilt of the Earth’s axis
Climate
An area’s pattern of weather conditions (example: hot); warm fronts and cold fronts
Inversion Layers
Where temperature rises with altitude (pollution); generally associated with big cities; Hadley Cells, Ferrel Cells, Polar Cells
Air Pollution
Gases and particulate matter added to the atmosphere that either impact the climate or living organisms; can be natural (dust storms, volcanoes, forest fires)
Primary Pollutants
Pollutants that can be directly harmful or that can react to form harmful substances (example: sulfur)
Secondary Pollutants
When primary pollutants react with chemicals or components of the atmosphere to form new pollutants (example: acidic rain)
Clean Air Act 1970
Made strict air standards, imposed limits on emissions for autos, provided money for research, and allowed some people to sue for the violation of the standards
Clean Air Act 1990
Gave teeth to the 1970 act; allowed the EPA to set nationwide standards; established six criteria pollutants:
Carbon monoxide (uncombusted byproduct of combustion reaction)
Sulfur dioxide and Nitrogen dioxide (produced by coal-burning power plants and cause acid rain)
*Tropospheric ozone (CFC chlorofluorocarbon)
Particulate matter
Lead
*Tropospheric ozone is the only secondary pollutant on this list
Since tropospheric ozone is a secondary pollutant, the EPA has to monitor the release of _. They can be hydrocarbons, turpenes, chlorofluorocarbons (Montreal Protocol), and others (most solvents count).
VOCs
Thanks to the Clean Air Act, _ emissions decreased 93% from 1980 to 1990. London decreased their _ emissions 56% in a 9-year period.
Lead; CO
The 1990 Act identifies _ toxic air pollutants, which also have decreased 30% during the 1990s.
188
Industrial Smog
Coal/Oil gets burned but not completely combusted; not as bad today as it was 50 years ago (Montana)
Photochemical Smog
Brown air smog formed through the light driven chemical reactions primary pollutants
Acidic Deposition
The deposition of acidic, or acid forming pollutants from the atmosphere to the Earth’s surface (Sulfur dioxide and Nitric oxide)
In 1998, the UN stated that 2.2 million deaths were attributed to _ compared to 500,000 to _ (roughly 6,000 deaths each day).
Indoor air pollution; outdoor air pollution
In developing nations, 90% of the population uses _ to heat and cook. Roughly 3-5% of all the world’s deaths are due to _.
Biomass; indoor fuelwood burning
_ is another major air pollution producer. There are over 4,000 chemicals in a cigarette, and causes 1 out of 5 deaths in the US every year. 1/5 of those are from _.
Tobacco smoke; secondhand smoke
_ is the scond leading cause of lung cancer and attributes to 20,000 deaths per year in the US.
Radon gas
_ are found in about 80% of all US buildings.
VOCs
75% of all US homes use a _ during the year. 90% of people’s _ comes from inside the home.
Pesticide; pesticide exposure
Relative Humidity
The ratio of water vapor’s volume in air to the amount it could contain at a certain temperature
Pressure Systems
High pressure vs. low pressure (rain)
Air flows _ above the equator and _ below the equator.
Clockwise; counterclockwise
Living Organism Pollutants
Most developed type of air pollution in the developed world; Legionnaires’ disease and sick-building syndrome
CAFE Standards
Corporate Average Fuel Economy; 18 MPG; no leaded gas
