Atmospheric Systems and Societies Flashcards
1
Q
What is the primary component of Earth’s atmosphere by percentage?
A
Nitrogen - 78%
The atmosphere is primarily composed of nitrogen.
2
Q
What is the second most abundant gas in the atmosphere?
A
Oxygen - 21%
Oxygen is essential for animal life.
3
Q
What percentage of the atmosphere is composed of Argon?
A
1%
Argon is a noble gas with minimal reactivity.
4
Q
What gas has a concentration of 0.04% in the atmosphere?
A
Carbon Dioxide
Carbon dioxide is crucial for photosynthesis.
5
Q
What was the state of the atmosphere at the formation of the Earth?
A
There was no atmosphere
Initially, the Earth had little or no oxygen.
6
Q
What gases were released by volcanoes during the early years of Earth’s formation?
A
Methane, ammonia, and water vapor
These gases contributed to the formation of the early atmosphere.
7
Q
What allowed plants to evolve and produce oxygen?
A
Water vapor and carbon dioxide
Photosynthesis requires these gases.
8
Q
What did the presence of oxygen in the atmosphere allow?
A
The evolution of animals
Oxygen is vital for aerobic respiration.
9
Q
How long has the current composition of the lower atmosphere remained fairly constant?
A
200 million years
This stability is crucial for maintaining life.
10
Q
What type of system can the Earth’s atmosphere be considered?
A
A dynamic closed system
It changes in composition but does not exchange matter with the outside.
11
Q
What are the inputs to the atmospheric system?
A
Sunlight and heat
These inputs drive atmospheric processes.
12
Q
What processes occur within the atmospheric system?
A
Reflection and emission
These processes affect energy transfer.
13
Q
What are the outputs of the atmospheric system?
A
Energy, heat, and light
These outputs influence climate and weather patterns.
14
Q
Fill in the blank: The atmosphere exchanges _______ but not matter with the outside.
A
energy
Energy exchanges are crucial for maintaining atmospheric balance.
15
Q
What is the approximate altitude of the troposphere?
A
Roughly 0 to 10 km
16
Q
How does temperature change in the troposphere?
A
Temperature decreases
17
Q
What are the main components of the troposphere?
A
Mainly nitrogen and oxygen
18
Q
What is the altitude range of the stratosphere?
A
10 km to 50 km
19
Q
Where is the ozone layer located?
A
about 10 km up into the stratosphere
20
Q
What key processes are involved in the atmosphere?
A
Greenhouse effect
21
Q
What would the Earth’s atmosphere be on average without the greenhouse effect?
A
13 degrees Celsius less
22
Q
What happens to incoming solar radiation in the atmosphere?
A
Half is reflected and absorbed by the atmosphere, and half reaches the ground
23
Q
What type of radiation is reflected back from the ground?
A
Infrared radiation
24
Q
What are examples of greenhouse gases?
A
- Methane
- CO2
25
How is ozone created in the atmosphere?
By the reaction of oxygen and sunlight to create O3
26
Where in terms of latitude is most ozone created?
Over the equator, because UV is strongest here to break up the 02 bonds
27
What role does the ozone layer play in protecting life on Earth?
Filters the most harmful UV rays (UVb and UVc)
28
True or False: Ozone can be considered a greenhouse gas.
True
29
What is the planetary boundary layer?
As level 0 in the atmosphere
30
What are the 2 types of ozone?
Good ozone and bad ozone
31
Where is good ozone found?
In the ozone layer
32
Where is bad ozone found?
In the troposphere / ground-level
33
What is the chemical reaction for ozone formation?
O2 → 0+0 + O2 → O3
34
What is the primary role of stratospheric ozone?
Protects against ultraviolet radiation
35
Why do we need to be protected from ultraviolet radiation?
It can cause genetic mutations, cancer, cataracts, and immune suppression
36
What are the three types of UV radiation?
UV-C, UV-B, UV-A
37
Which type of UV radiation is the most harmful?
UV-C
38
What happens to half of UV-B radiation?
It is absorbed
39
What is one benefit of UV-A radiation?
Stimulates production of vitamin D
40
What deficiency can be caused by a lack of vitamin D?
Rickets
41
What skin diseases can UV radiation help treat?
Psoriasis and vitiligo
42
What industrial uses does UV radiation have?
Sterilization, lighting, forensics
43
What negative effect does UV radiation have on plants?
Damages photosynthetic organisms
44
What can UV radiation potentially affect in food webs?
Consumers of food webs
45
What is the chemical formula for ozone?
O3
## Footnote
Ozone is a molecule consisting of three oxygen atoms.
46
What is the process called when UV radiation splits a diatomic oxygen molecule into two oxygen atoms?
Photolysis
## Footnote
This process leads to the formation of free oxygen atoms.
47
What happens to a free oxygen atom after it is formed from photolysis?
It reacts with oxygen molecules to form ozone
## Footnote
This is a key step in ozone production.
48
What role do CFC molecules play in ozone depletion?
CFC molecules release chlorine atoms when broken down by UV radiation
## Footnote
Chlorine atoms are highly reactive and contribute to ozone depletion.
49
What occurs when a chlorine atom reacts with an ozone molecule?
The chlorine atom pulls one oxygen atom away
## Footnote
This reaction results in the formation of chlorine monoxide.
50
What is the end result of the reaction between chlorine monoxide and a free oxygen atom?
It produces oxygen and regenerates a free chlorine atom
## Footnote
This allows the chlorine atom to continue depleting ozone.
51
Fill in the blank: The formula for diatomic oxygen is _______.
O2
## Footnote
Diatomic oxygen consists of two oxygen atoms.
52
True or False: Free chlorine atoms can be used up in the ozone depletion process.
False
## Footnote
Free chlorine atoms are regenerated during the reactions and can continue to deplete ozone.
53
List the reactions involving ozone in the stratosphere.
* O2 + O → O3
* O3 → O2 + O
* O2 → O + O
* CFC → Cl + FC
* Cl + O3 → ClO + O2
* ClO + O → O2 + Cl
## Footnote
These reactions illustrate the formation and destruction of ozone.
54
What is the consequence of free chlorine in the stratosphere?
It continues to deplete ozone
## Footnote
This is a significant environmental concern related to ozone layer depletion.
55
why is the ozone layer worse at the poles?
because draft winds pushed CFCs to the poles
56
how is the ozone hole measured
they measure the amount of UV that comes through to identify the condition of the ozone
57
when (what season) is the ozone layer more depleted
in the summer
58
what are ozone depleting substances?
## Footnote
ODS
substances that break apart the ozone layer
59
name 5 ODS, where they come from and what do they release
- Cholorfluorocarbons (CFCs) -> propellants in spray cans, refridgerators -> cholrine atoms
- Hydrochlorocarbons (HCFCs) -> replacement for CFCs -> release chlorine atoms but have a shorter lifetime in the atmosphere and contribute to the greenhouse effect
- Halons -> fire extinguishers -> bromine atoms
- Nitrogen oxides -> bacterial breakdown of nitrites/nitrates in soil-> the nitrogen oxides are converted into NO, which reacts with ozone
- Methyl Bromides -> pesticide -> bromine atoms
60
when were CFCs developed
1930
61
why were CFCs useful
They were used to be the answer to many technological problems because they are inert. They were used for:
- propellants in aerosols
- pesticides
- Refrigerators
- flame retardants
62
what two international agreements aimed to restore the ozone layer?
- the Vienna convention for the protection of the ozone layer (1985)
- the Montreal Protocol (1987)
63
what did the Vienna Protocol do?
they produced an agreement to protect the ozone layer. It doesn't set specific targets but instead promotes information sharing and encourages countries to adopt "appropriate measures" to address activities harming the ozone layer
64
what did the Montreal Protocol do?
- LEDCs were given a longer period to phase out CFCs
- the manufacture and the use of CFCs was phased out then banned
- the use of HCFCs will be phased out by 2030
- only some essential uses of ODS are used (i.e. halon fire extinguishers in aircrafts)
- they provided a fund to help countries implement the protocol
65
what alternative products did the montreal implement?
- stick or roll-on deodorants rather than spray
- pump action sprays are now used, for example for domestic cleaning products
- HCFCs were introduced because they are less stable than CFCs are most would break done in the troposphere before even reaching the stratosphere, additionally they have no chlorine atoms to cause ozone depletion
66
name 2 materials where CFCs have been replaced
- CFCs in asthma inhalers have been replaced with HFAs
- CFCs have been replaced by hydrocarbons like propane and butane
67
evaluate the effectiveness of the montreal protocol as a ozone restoration method
- international recognition of the ozone issue lead to the effectiveness of the protocol
- the agreement was accepted by every country, therefore is the best example of international cooperation on an environmental issue
- they developed alternate processes so the use of ODS were now unnecessary
68
why is it hard to monitor the ozone hole's recovery
Monitoring the recovery is complicated by:
- variations in the atmosphere regarding temperature and wind
- the amount of aerosols in the atmosphere
- the amount of ozone-destroying volcanie dust
69
what is the role of the scientific assessment of ozone depletion (2018)
- to examine the state of the ozone
- the condition of the atmosphere
- the links between ozone change and climate change
70
what is photochemical smog
a type of air pollution formed when sunlight triggers chemical reactions between primary pollutants
71
name 4 factors affecting the concentration of smog
- Population density
- Type of fuel used
- the relief of the land (flat land usually means a greater impact from the wind and therefore lower smog levels)
- climate in the region (warm air is less dense and therefore rises up and is replaced by clean air. Cold air is more dense and therefore the small cannot rise up and be replaced by clean air)
72
What is photochemical smog made from?
- the reactions of nitrogen oxides (NOXs) and Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from cars and industrial plants with sunlight
- these form the secondary pollutants: PANs, and tropospheric ozone which are the main components of smog
73
where do nitrogen oxides form from
- car exhausts -> the hot engine allows for the reaction with oxygen
74
how is tropospheric ozone formed
- VOCs and NOx are released into the air from various sources, including vehicle exhaust and industrial processes and react in the air with sunlight
75
at what time of day is ozone production greatest and smallest
greatest: midday -> high UV radiation and sunlight
smallest: nighttime -> lack of sunlight and UV to react with NOx and VOCs to form O3
76
why is tropospheric ozone dangerous (name 1 env, 1 social, 1 economic impact)
env:
- damages crops/ vegetations
social:
- irritates eyes and can cause breathing difficulties
economic:
- damages building materials and fabrics
77
what is thermal inversion and how doe sit increase the concentrations of photochemical smog forming
Thermal inversion traps pollutants close to the ground, intensifying photochemical smog formation. This occurs when a layer of warm air sits above a layer of cooler air, preventing vertical mixing and dispersing of pollutants. This leads to the accumulation of pollutants like nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which react in the presence of sunlight to produce photochemical smog.
78
name 4 solutions to tackling photochemical smog (and 1 adv and 1 dis.adv for each)
- consume less/ burn less fossil fuel
adv:
helps to reduce the concentration of NOx and VOCs in the air linking to photochemical smog
dis.adv:
hard to change people’s lifestyles
- afforestation
adv:
to increase carbon sinks and filter air
dis.adv:
does not directly reduce emissions
- Catalytic converters
adv:
Reduces the emissions of NOX
dis.adv:
Can be expensive to implement
Government regulation and taxation on fuel quality
adv:
Places and limits on the volume of pollution released
dis.adv:
They may not greatly impact TNCS/ corrupt governments
79
what is acid deposition
any form of precipitation with acidic components, such as sulfuric or nitric acid, that falls to the ground from the atmosphere in wet or dry forms.
80
What is dry deposition
Dry deposition occurs when acidic dust and gasses settle on surfaces, including vegetation, buildings, cars and soil close to the source
81
what is wet deposition
In the atmosphere, the primary pollutants can react with water to form sulphuric and nitric acids which then fall snow or rain at distances further away from the source
82
How can wet deposition travel further away from the source
What deposition such as acid rain or snow, can travel to neighbouring regions via wind
83
name 2 impacts of acid rain on ecology
- Acid rain causes direct damage to foliage. This weakens trees, making them more vulnerable to disease and harsh weather
- Acidic rain can increase soil toxicity. This damages plant roots and affects their ability to absorb water and nutrients
84
Name two impacts of acid rain on water ecosystems
- Acid rain causes aluminium, which is normally bound in the soil, to dissolve. This allows the aluminium to enter nearby water bodies.This makes water bodies more acidic
- This aluminium is toxic to aquatic life, such as fish and freshwater invertebrates. Fish gills can become coated with aluminium. This makes it harder for them to breathe
85
Name one impact of acid rain on buildings and infrastructure
- Acid rain erodes materials like marble, limestone, steel, and paint used in buildings and monuments. The calcium carbonate (limestone) reacts with sulphuric acid or nitric acid, causing stonework to corrode and weaken
86
what are the equations for nitric acid, and sulphuric acid
nitrogen dioxide + water -> nitric acid
sulphuric dioxide + water -> sulphuric acid
87
Name one impact of acid rain on human health
Acid rain does not directly harm humans. However, nitrate and sulphate particles from acid rain can cause respiratory problems
88
How does acid rain reduce the concentration of necessary nutrients in the soil
Acid deposition contains H+ ions. Every H+ ion will replace an equivalent amount of nutrients in the soil (one H+ ion will replace one K+ ion). This causes nutrients to become scarce in the soil, limiting the amount of nutrients available for plant growth.
89
Name four solutions to acid deposition and an advantage and disadvantage for each
1) replace fossil fuel use by using alternatives such as renewable energy sources for electricity
adv:
This reduces the amount of sulphur and nitrogen oxide that contribute to acid rain
dis.adv:
We live in a fossil fuel reliant economy and the demand for power is increasing especially in India and China as they become industrialised economies
2) international agreements against acid deposition
adv:
Usually has the necessary capital and participation to mitigate against acid deposition on a global scale
dis.adv:
Agreements can be difficult to establish and monitor
3) liming certified lakes and rivers
adv:
Effective in restoring pH
dis.adv:
Has to be repeated regularly and therefore can be costly
4) catalytic converters convert nitrous oxide back into nitrogen gas
adv:
Can be cost-effective if well maintained
dis.adv:
Are expensive to buy
90
what is liming in water
Liming in water refers to the process of adding lime, typically in the form of limestone, to raise the pH level of water, making it less acidic
